Burke is on surfing mission

By Morissa Lindsay

Barbados’ top surfer Josh Burke is determined to secure a permanent place amongst the world’s best by being a constant feature competing in the World Surf League (WSL) Championship tour events around the world.

Recently, the 25-year-old Burke created history as the first surfer from Central America and the Caribbean to compete at the WSL Championship presented by Corona in El Salvador.

“My experience for heat three against former World Surf League champion and Olympic gold medallist Italo Ferreira of Brazil was a great one. It was an honour to be in the World Surf League Championship in El Salvador and hopefully, I can get there permanently because that is where I belong and I know I can defeat every single person in that event.

“My plans were to win the contest although it was a great opportunity and while everyone was telling me congratulations for getting in the contest I wanted to win and then hear congratulations. So, no my plans didn’t go accordingly because I definitely wanted to do well in this event because I always have high expectations than just being there, I want to win,” Burke told Barbados TODAY.

He added: “I am not satisfied, I want to be on the world tour permanently and that is when I will be satisfied when I am among my peers where I belong. So, yes I am not satisfied with my efforts because I wanted to win the whole contest and hopefully, in South Africa, I can win that contest because that is what I want to do, win – nothing less.”

While he felt disappointed about not advancing into the round of 32, Burke acknowledged that each day is different and oftentimes mother nature doesn’t cooperate which was his fate in El Salvador where he did not get the types of waves he had hoped. However, he is determined to do better going forward and produce the types of results he knows he’s capable of.

It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Burke who entered the WSL Championship through a wildcard after American-born eleven-time world champion Kelly Slater withdrew because of injury.

Competing against a strong field of surfers including former World Surf League champion and Olympic gold medallist, Italo Ferreira of Brazil, Burke knew it would be a task to get past such a legend of the sport but tried his best. Burke hopes to someday reach the level of Slater and Ferreira as he recognized their significant contribution to surfing.

Burke is no stranger to competing at the international level having won the Qualifying Series 1000 events at the Cocoa Beach Florida in 2018 and the following year on home soil at the Soup Bowl in Bathsheba.

Next on the agenda for Burke is the Challenger Series from July 3rd to 10th in Ballito South Africa.

(morissalindsay@barbadostoday.bb)   

(barbadostoday.com)