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An Extra Special Day!

The Surfing Association of Trinidad and Tobago(SATT) and the Caribbean Kids and Families Therapy Organisation(CKFTO), both non-profit organizations, provided a Surf Experience for Special Needs Kids and their siblings on the 5th of September at Las Cuevas Beach. The aim of this therapeutic experience is to empower the special needs children in a safe, fun and challenging activity while nurturing their relationship with their siblings and parents.

CKFTO’s mission is to provide professional and empathetic therapeutic services to all Caribbean children ages birth to twenty-one with special needs; to provide support and empowerment to families of children with special needs and to educate and involve the community ofTrinidad and Tobago in creating an open and caring society for all persons with special needs.

The Surfing Association is proud to have been involved in this experience and all of our certified instructors and several surfing and non-surfing members assisted in making this a truly 'special' day for all concerned.

We feel proud to be a part of something that is greater than the association, it's intitiatives, and the sum of it's parts. This event will surely become annual event, and perhaps a more frequent event. Everyone who made it possible, sponsors, volunteers, family, friends, and surfers alike do not need a pat on the back because they can be comforted by the overwhelming joy expressed on the faces of every child present on this special day.

"Gone are the days of surfing's negative stereotypes, today surfing ambassadores have only positives to pass on to our communities. We are here to share the joy of wave riding and beach culture. We are here to share the joy and love of all the ocean has to offer." Keith Lewis

SPECIAL THANKS TO THE NON-MEMBERS WHO VOLUNTEERED AND THE SPONSORS WHO CONTRIBUTED TO THE SMILES.....REPUBLIC BANK, BLUE WATERS, SOLO, BRYDENS, BUDGET MARINE, SCOTIABANK, FLAVORITE, HOLIDAY FOODS, BRYDEN PI, TRIDIUM, CANTREX AND A COUPLE PRIVATE CONTRIBUTORS.

"THANKS TO ALL THE SURFERS AND HELPERS WHO GAVE OF THEMSELVES TO MAKE THIS A TRULY SPECIAL DAY FOR THESE KIDS AND THEIR PARENTS......MANY OF THESE FAMILIES ENDURE HARDSHIPS WE CANT IMAGINE AND THE BLISS I WITNESSED ON THEIR FACES AND IN THE SHOUTS AND SCREAMS OF PURE JOY WILL REMAIN WITH ME FOREVER.....WE COULDNT GET THE KIDS OUT OF THE WATER ONCE WE STARTED AND ONE CHILD DIDNT TOUCH WATER FOR ALMOST 2 YEARS BEFORE YESTERDAY...IT TOOK HIM AN HOUR TO REACH THEWATERS EDGE AND AFTER THAT HE WAS SPLASHING AND ROLLING IN THE SURF......" Warren Rostant

Check out all of Nic Marsans great photos at http://www.flickr.com/photos/nicpic2009/sets/72157622144430861/

As expected, RedBull was well represented with their Pinzi Vehicle making its way up and down the beach. The surfer voluntere's got to have a little fun of their own. Check out the video by Ravin Ramkissoon..

ADDRESS TO MEMBERSHIP & REQUEST FOR FEEDBACK.

To all members, I have issued an address to the membership. It can be found at the following url:

http://caribbeanwaterman.com/surfingtnt/SATT%20UPDATE.htm

Please take time to read and understand the current state of your sport in your country. We also invite you to offer feedback to the executive of the association by filling out the form at:

http://souljahs.org/surfingtnt/feedback.php

We look forward to hearing from you.

Best Regards,
Keith.

TEAM USA WINS THE BILLABONG ISA WORLD SURFING GAMES

Pictured: The USA Team that made history today at Playa Hermosa. Pic: Watts/ISA

FINAL Team Results:
GOLD - United States – 14910 points
SILVER - France – 13280 points
BRONZE - Australia - 10996 points
COPPER - Hawaii – 10856 points

INDIVIDUAL FINAL RESULTS
Open Men
Gold: Jeremy Flores (FRA)
Silver: Cory Lopez (USA)
Bronze: Gabriel VIllarán (PER)
Copper: Ben Bourgeois (USA)

Open Women
Gold: Courtney Conlogue (USA)
Silver: Rosanne Hodge (RSA)
Copper: Sage Erickson (USA)
Bronze: Pauline Ado (FRA)

Longboard
Gold: Antoine Delpero (FRA)
Silver: Harley Ingleby (AUS)
Copper: Ben Skinner (GBR)
Bronze: Tony Silvagni (USA)

GOOD EFFORT BY WEST INDIAN SURFERS...

The last two days of the ISA World Surfing Games saw some good action from the Caribbean contingent; however a bout of bad luck meant that none of the island boys made it to the fourth day of competition. On Sunday, Stephan Corbin (BAR) opened the day by winning his heat with a combined 2 wave score of 10.40. Soon after Johnathan Reece (BAR), Christopher Clarke (BAR), and Shane Simmonds (JAM) got second place in their heats, advancing into the Repercharge Round 2. Che Lovelace (TNT) finished a close 3^rd in his heat due to a very questionable call on the judge’s part.

On Monday, these Four Open Surfers contested in their Repercharge heats in slightly small, tougher conditions. Although none of these surfers advance, they all surfed quite well and young Shane Simmonds from Jamaica put up a valiant effort, surfing very fluid and powerfully on the small waves. He was dropped in on during his heat; however the interference call did not help his cause in passing through to the next round.

Still in the event are our Caribbean brothers from Puerto Rico, and our neighbors Venezuela, along with many other National Teams fighting for valuable team points! Keep up with the rest of the event as it unfolds at www.billabongpro.com ! Look out for longboarding from Trinidad and Barbados beginning tomorrow with a building swell. Should be very challenging and exciting.

TOUGH FIRST DAY @ BILLABONG WORLD SURFING GAMES 2009

The Caribbean Watermen who are representing the West Indian nations of Jamaica, Barbados, and Trinidad and Tobago came up against intense competition on the first day of the World Surfing Games 2009. In the Open Men’s Division it was Che Lovelace who broke the ice, facing off with local Costa Rican hero Gilbert Brown. Brown was on fire and destroyed every wave that came his way to the delight of a large crowd of supporters present on the beach. In the end he had the 4 highest scores of the heat, and Lovelace was unable to get two solid scores to progress in the main event. Lovelace will surf again in the Repo charge Round 1 tomorrow.

Shane Simmonds of Jamaica, Simon Coles and Stephan Corbin of Barbados, and Keith Lewis of Trinidad were among the West Indian surfers who were able to beat opponents in their heat and get a third place finish. However, none of the surfers from these three countries were able to progress in the main round. They will all battle in the Repo Charge Round 1 tomorrow in a bid to advance further in the competition. Today’s highlights were WCT surfers like Jeremy Flores of France (pictured) absolutely destroying the waves, and the sell-out crowd in the thousands that came out to support the local hero’s.

The Costa Rican team did not disappoint, having all four of their open male surfers advance to the next round, either in first or second place in their heat. Look out for more great surfing action tomorrow on www.billabongpro.com !