Barbados’ chance of winning gold in the men’s division of the World Surf League Barbados Surf Pro now rests on Josh and Jacob Burke.
The brothers booked their spots in the round of 32 in the international competition when action continued at the Soup Bowl, Bathsheba, today.
On a day that saw slightly bigger swells ranging from four to six feet, Josh and Jacob topped their respective heats to advance in a stacked field.
Competing in Heat 3, the 26-year-old Josh posted scores of 8.00 and 4.70 to claim the top position with a total of 12.70. Taj Lindblad of the USA was the other qualifier in the group after scoring 11.60 to place second.
“I would’ve definitely liked to get 16 points, that was the goal and I got one at 8.00, but I fell on the other turn that would’ve been my other excellent score,” said Josh.
“That was what I manifested, and I’m just happy to make the heat with a win. I wasn’t really nervous and not taking pressure into
consideration, just trying to surf my home break and get eights. This community treats me like family and I consider them my family too.”
Meanwhile, Jacob progressed to the next round after winning a highly competitive Heat 8.
Jacob had scores of 5.67 and 5.17 for a total score of 10.84, just .18 higher than that of second-placed Evan Geiselman of the USA (10.66), who also qualified.
Just missing out on qualification was Luke Guinaldo who posted a score of 10.56.
Two other Barbadian surfers, Che Allan and Caleb Rapson bowed out of the competition after failing to place in the top two of their heats.
Allan finished third in Heat 5 with a score of 10.23, behind eventual winner Tyler Gunter of the USA (15.13) and his teammate Nolan Rapoza who ended with a score of 14.00.
Rapson was fourth in Heat 9, after scoring 8.73. That heat was won by USA’s Cole Houshmand (12.60), while another American, Braden Kopec was second (9.50).
The day’s top performance, however, belonged to American Jabe Swierkocki, who produced a sensational round of surfing on his way to posting a score of 17.00 out of a possible 20 – the highest so far of the competition.
The Ventura, California, competitor who is currently ranked sixth in the North American rankings, felt right at home on the pristine right-hand reef break on his powerful forehand as he unleashed it on multiple, critical sections.
“That was the best case scenario for the first heat of the contest and drop some solid scores and start the momentum going. It’s dreamy. Free surfing you don’t really have the pick, but in a heat with priority and surfing good waves felt really good. This is just fun now, it’s not about winning the heat, it’s just about picking good waves and letting your surfing do the talking,” Swierkocki said.
(RB/PR)
