Triple surf champ Tommaso preps for 2025

One of the island’s brightest young surfing prospects is already turning his focus to next season, after enjoying a strong year in 2024. Tomasso Layson, a 15-year-old student of The St Michael School, has been surfing for seven years.

He considered this year a breakthrough for him, having won two titles at the East Coast Surfing Championships in Virginia, in the 12-14 age group and the open men’s competition. Layson won the Explorer Men’s Title at the NSSA regionals in Florida. And he was fourth in the Rip Curl Grom Search National Final in California.

In home waters, Layson excelled at the National Championships in November, claiming three titles and earning Surfer of Year series in three divisions.

First, Layson dominated his pet division, securing the national title in the Under-16 boys with a total 13.13 to second-placed Christian Stoute at 11.33.

In the Under-18 category, Layton surfed up, winning the division and the national title from an in-form Rafe Gooding with a total of 13.77 to Rafe’s 10.77.

Onto the GWM Junior Surf Pro, Layton came back on a nail-biting buzzer-beater finish to take the win from Warren Povey. Povey was leading the final heat, before Layton came from behind, scoring a 7.2 to take the lead from frontrunners Povey and Gooding. His final score of 13.80 edged Warren’s 13.27 and Rafe’s 12.33.

Now, onto 2025, Layton is hopeful of competing in the World Surf League Juniors, and the Men’s Qualifying Series for the North America Region. He is also looking forward to competing at the International Surfing Association (ISA) Junior World Championships, where he said it would be his dream to win a gold medal.

Layton Is sponsored and supported by the Barbados Olympic Association, GWM and Caribbean Auto Retailers, creatures of leisure, FCS, Chemistry Surfboards, Irieone, and Otis Sunglasses.

(TF)