By Cynthia Wilmot, ContributorYOU PROBABLY haven't noticed them they look like you and me. They play human roles as CEOs of businesses, lawyers, university and secondary school students, artists, musicians. One is disguised as an oceanographer, another as an environmentalist. There are farmers among them and commercial artists and lifeguards and graphics designers... And there are more than a hundred of them... waiting.
When the Caribbean suddenly begins to leap up into huge waves with only the gentlest of breezes, the transformation begins. The façade disappears. They become... surfers.
Jamaica is world-famous for football, track and cricket. Our island is surrounded by water, so why has it been a well-kept secret that surfing has been a growing sport on the 'Rock' over the last 40 years? Among the pioneers were Cecil Ward; Gordon Cooper; Robin Samms; Randy Cargill; David Couch; Danny Soutar; Paul Blades; Peter Flora; Terrence Muschette; and others now moving gently into their late 40s and 50s.
So, hold on, why are we just now hearing about it?
One reason: surfing beaches aren't bathing beaches they tend to be rocky and steep, not gently sloping and sandy. Because they seek out these beaches off the beaten tourist track, Jamaican surfers (known in world competitions as 'The Tanned Jammies') are better known in the United States, South America, Ecuador and South Africa where they have proudly carried the national flag in regional and worldwide competitions to the tune of our National Anthem, than they are at home.
"The Tanned Jammies are always popular, wherever we travel," says the association's president, Eugene Miller. "TV stations, radio stations, newspapers and photographers want interviews, pictures and autographs."
And with this 'name-gone-abroad' publicity, surfers are coming to test our waves from as far away as Japan and the Canary Islands, Germany and the United States. Thus opens another lucrative source of tourism dollars with tourists who are usually quiet, often vegetarians, and seldom heavy drinkers, undemanding. When the evening breezes end surfing for the day, they watch the videos they have taken of their skills, always seeking improvement.
Air Jamaica has been a great source of support for the Tanned Jammies, flying them to contests they would otherwise not be able to attend. Valuable support has come from the Ministry of Sports, the Sports Development Foundation, and a host of other contributors: Catherine's Peak, Jamaica Broilers, SuperClubs, Kariang Records, Red Bull, Altamont Court and others.
Over the past two years the Jamaica Surfing Association has become a member of the International Surfing Association and has been officially recognised by the Olympic Association of Jamaica.
So, what does this matter for those of us who have no intention whatsoever of balancing on a fibreglass board over surging six-foot waves? Good news: the regular surfing competitions are FREE!
Visitors are welcome to come to marvel at the grace of the young men and women going through apparently impossible twists, turns and balances which are all explained for us over a loud speaker system, which fills in the time while judges add up their marks with pop music. The next competition will be on Saturday, June 26, at Copacabana Beach east of Harbour View.
Follow the entrance road to Copacabana and drive seaward, find a place to park or cotch. The beach will be clean and tidy the surfers will have been out since dawn gathering up scandalbags and other refuge abandoned by less environmentally-conscious folk. The competitions really begin at 8 a.m. but the fun goes on till noon.
Expect to see some good performances this is the last contest of the current season; surfers from both south and north coasts will participate. A large contingent from Boston, Portland will be arriving to challenge the southerners, and some fantastic 'off the tops', 'cutbacks', 'snaps' and tube riding is expected.
