The Jamaica Star :: Sport :: Jamaica's Phillips performs well at World Junior Surf Champs

Keisha Hill, Staff Reporter

Jamaica's Ackeam Phillips in action at the World Junior Surfing Championships which was held last weekend in France. - contributed

Jamaica's lone competitor to the International Surfing Association's (ISA)/-Quiksilver 2008 World Junior Surfing Championships, Ackeam Phillips, performed well at the meet.

Phillips, who reached the second round of the boys' Under-18 division beating surfers from Ecuador, Germany, Argentina, Israel, Barbados, Senegal, Canada, Ireland, Peru, Portugal and Morocco, did Jamaica proud by making it to the second round of the boys' under-18 division of the competition which was held in France from May 31-June 1.

Team would have done better

According to Billy Wilmot, president of the Jamaica Surfing Association (JSA), if a complete team had participated in the competition, Jamaica would have done better.

"Each team member contributes to the overall team total and thus Jamaica would have only had one score. Complete teams would have scores from all 12 competitors," Wilmot said.

"Unfortunately, as a result of this Jamaica has fallen in the world rankings. However, having Jamaica present at the most prestigious junior surfing event in the world and the experience gained by Phillips has been priceless," he added.

Total camera coverage

As one of the 20 recipients of the ISA 2008 individual scholarships, Phillips also had a Fuel TV camera covering all his preparations for, and his experiences at the championships. This will be included in a production commissioned by the ISA about the scholarship programme which will air on Fuel TV and be released on DVD later this year.

The ISA/Quiksilver World Junior Surfing Championship was won by Australia for the third consecutive year. The gold in the under-18 boys' division went Brazilian Alejo Muniz. The under-16 boys' section was won by Tamaroa McComb of Tahiti while Laura Enever of Australia captured the girls' division.

Phillips' trip to the championships got support from the Sports Development Foundation, Quashi Surfboards, Body Glove Wetsuits, Insight Fifty-One clothing and the Jamnesia Surf Club.