Wednesday, June 1, 2011

“Venezuelans Dominate at T&T’s ‘Best Ever’ International Pro Surfing Event”

Event: CARIB PILSNER INTERNATIONAL SURF FESTIVAL 2011

Sans Souci, Trinidad - The Carib Pilsner International Surf Festival 2011 hosted by the Surfing Association of Trinidad and Tobago (SURFING T&T) this past Indian Arrival Day Long Weekend (May 28th, 29th, 30th 2011) is receiving high praise from the regional surfing community as the ‘Best Ever’ Pro Surfing Event to be held on local shores. Venezuelan surf stars Francisco Bellorin and Rafael Perreira were the events top performers, winning the Open Men’s Pro and the U21 Pro Junior Divisions, respectively.




The Open Men’s Pro was conducted in an Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Style Format which is employed at the highest level of international professional surfing and allows for Man on Man competition, which helps to elevate competitors performances. In the Open Men’s Division Francisco Bellorin took home US$3,000 for first place and Runner Up was Jesse Heilman of Florida, USA, who pocketed a cool US$1500. Local favorite Chris Dennis and Venezuelan Rafael Perreira were equal 3rd Place, each winning US$500.



In the U21 Pro Junior Division, Perreira closely ousted 14-year old surf phenomenon Joshua Burke of Barbados in a highflying aerial showdown during the final. Both surfers surfed extremely well throughout the event, with Burke also getting equal 5th in the Open Men’s Division. Georgio Gomez of Florida and Ackeam Phillips of Jamaica placed 3rd and 4th respectively in the Pro Junior Division.



The Caribbean Surf Legends Division was a specialty Invitational Division featuring multiple time national champions, surf pioneers, professionals, and surfboard shapers from Jamaica, Barbados and Trinidad & Tobago. T&T’s Jason Apparicio took top honors in the Final Heat, with Alan Burke (BDS) in Second, Che Lovelace (T&T) in Third, Mark Holder (BDS) in Forth, Billy Wilmot (JAM) in Fifth, and Mikey ‘Bully’ Phillips (T&T) in Sixth. In the Women’s Pro Division Leslie Dickerson (USA) took First place, Cathy Ann Smith (T&T) took Second, and Lexi Lautzker (USA) was Third.



The Festival Vibe of the event rivaled the intense surfing action, creating an all time epic experience for all in attendance. Orange Sky, Joint Pop and supporting acts rocked out the community center in Sans Souci on Saturday Night, setting the stage for a weekend of partying and festivities in the coastal village.




On Sunday the beach was on fire with the hottest bikini babes in T&T, as the Carib Pilsner Bikini Contest took the spotlight and a prize purse of US$1000 was distributed to the top performers. Finally on Monday, Indian Arrival Day, foreigners and locals alike were treated to a genuine cultural experience as the Beacon Insurance Curry Cook-off wet the appetites of the judges and officials. The Carib Pilsner International Surf Festival 2011 sets the stage for many top class action sports events to be sponsored by Carib Pilsner in the coming year.



Competitors and guests from Jamaica, Barbados, Venezuela, USA, and even as far as Australia, have been praising the event, its organizers (SURFING T&T) and its Sponsors, for the cultural vibe, hospitality, organization, and overall impression it demonstrated. Surfing T&T would like to thank Carib Pilsner, the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs, the Western Atlantic Pro Surf Series, Subway, TDC, Beacon Insurance, Digicel, RedBull, Beach Break Surf Shop, Power Up Rental Equipment, Supligen, Tropical Power, Trini Eco Warriors, Sangre Grande Regional Corporation, National Forestry Division, and the Sans Souci Community for all their support!


All Photos: Lyden Thomas

Final Results:
Men’s Open
1st Fracisco Bellorin $3000

2nd Jesse Heilman $1500

=3rd Chris Dennis $500
=3rd Rafael Perriera $500

=5th Joshua Burke $250
=5th David Diaz $250
=5th Jason Apparicio $250
=5th Ackeam Phillips $250

=9th Jonathan Reece $125
=9th Giorgio Gomez $125
=9th Icah Wilmot $125
=9th Shane Henneman $125
=9th Cheyne Jobson $125
=9th Jesse Jarvis $125
=9th JC Schaffer $125
=9th Travis Ajay $125



Pro Junior (U21)
1st Rafael Perreira $500
2nd Joshua Burke $350
3rd Giorgio Gomez
4th Ackeam Phillips

Caribbean Legends
1st Jason Apparicio (T&T)
2nd Alan Burke (BDS)
3rd Che Lovelace (T&T)
4th Alan Davis (T&T)
5th Mark Holder (BDS)
6th Billy Wilmot (JAM)
7th Mikey ‘Bully’ Phillips (T&T)

Women’s Division
1st Leslie Dickerson (USA)
2nd Cathy Ann Smith (T&T)
3rd Lexi Lautzker (USA)