Beckford, Alkateeb crowned national surfing champs

Under brilliant sunshine and facing the formidable rolling waves of Copa Beach, the nation’s top surfers delivered a spectacular display of skill and nerve at the National Surfing Championships on Sunday.

When the final sprays settled, Elishama Beckford and Aaliyah Alkateeb emerged victorious, earning national champion titles.

The men’s division was a masterclass in momentum. Beckford built his title run methodically, advancing from the first round with an 11.77 combined score before elevating his performance to 14.07 in the quarter-finals.

His semi-final clash with Ronald Hastings was a decisive affair, with Beckford’s combined wave total of 13.33 overpowering Hastings’ 9.57.

The other side of the draw saw the dynamic Ivah Wilmot secure his spot in the final, narrowly edging out Ackeam Phillips 12.10 to 9.57.

This set the stage for a final that had the sparse surf fans on their feet. Both surfers carved through the Copa swells with flair, pleasing the judges with a series of critical manoeuvres. The defining moment came when Beckford unleashed a couple of spectacular reverse turns, earning scores of 7.87 and 7.83 for a winning total of 15.70. Wilmot’s best efforts netted him 5.90 and 5.67.

Family narrative

“The level of competitiveness today was incredible,” a jubilant Beckford said afterwards, hoisting his championship trophy.

“Every heat was a battle. I have to thank the Jamaica Surfing Association for pulling off a remarkable national contest. The waves and the atmosphere were perfect.”

The women’s final carried a compelling family narrative, as rising star Aaliyah Alkateeb faced her aunt, Elim Beckford. In a tightly contested match, Alkateeb’s precision on two waves, scoring 4.83 and 4.43 for a 9.27 total, secured her the national title over her relative’s 7.33.

Despite the joy of victory, the new champion was already looking ahead. “I’m pleased with the win, of course,” Alkateeb stated. “But I know I need to keep working on my technique. There’s always room to improve.”

The championship day also crowned champions in other divisions. Ivah Wilmot bounced back from his open final defeat to claim the Longboard title. The future looks bright, as evidenced by Kori Valentine’s triumph in the Junior division. The Masters event was won by veteran Ishack Wilmot, adding another family name to the day’s list of honourees.