A Sport for All Ages: Surfing in The BVI
By Jane Bakewell
A BVI Surfing Contest for young and old will highlight this exhilarating sport in March. Jane Bakewell talks to surfer, Steve Howes, of Surf School BVI to learn more about the contest and surfing here in The BVI.
The BVI has a lot to brag about with legendary beaches for sunning, snorkeling – and on Tortola alone – five North Shore beaches and bays that attract surfers world-wide. The influx of surfers has brought about a local enthusiasm for learning the sport. Two career surfers, one BVI-born and the other originally from “Down Under” decided the time was ripe for a Surf School to provide lessons and exciting competitions.
Thus in 2012, Surf School BVI came riding in on the waves (so to speak) and landed in Josiah’s Bay with the vision to make surfing a sport for all ages and abilities. I had the opportunity to sit down in the colorful, eclectic, open- air beach shack with co-founder Steve Howes and hear about the unique BVI surfing experience.
Steve, with his Aussie/ South African accent, long locks, beard and big smile greeted me and offered me a cold coconut, the top sliced with a straw…ahh, chilled fresh coconut water, what a treat! As Steve and I took a deep dive into the surfing world in the BVI, we were occasionally interrupted by people dropping by for a cheery word or inquiring about a surf board rental.
Steve’s background includes 14 years as a Surf Life-Saving Guard and 20 years as a dedicated surfer, a passion he calls, “Living the Dream.’’ He also realized over the years teaching others, “that learning to surf changes people’s lives.” Married now with four daughters, Steve mentioned that all have showed interest in surfing, even with a boogie board.
A well-designed web page for the business shows all the options for surfing: 1 to 2- hour surfing lessons for Beginners and Improvers, surfboard rentals, and Family/Group rates. There is even a page giving daily updates on surfing conditions, wind velocity and wave heights – including the other four top surf sites on Tortola: Cane Garden Bay, Brewer’s Bay, Capoon’s Bay and Apple Bay. In addition to surfing, other nature adventures are mentioned here, including kayaking, paddle boarding and cultural tours, which are offered through Ground Sea Adventures, his local partner, Alex Dick-Read’s business.
I asked if Josiah’s Bay was considered the “best” surfing spot on Tortola. Smiling, Steve remarked, “It is definitely the most consistent in wave activity.” The wide curved bay and shallow depths brings waves in for a long ride before the wave breaks, he explained. I also wondered if this was a male-dominated sport here, or did young girls and women also gravitate towards surfing.
Surfing in the BVI used to be more of a “guy’s sport,” but that has really changed over the last years. Now a lot of women and young girls want to be out on the water and learning to surf. Just then, a young female surfer who also works on a local charter boat came up to pay for her surfboard rental. Steve generously explained, it was just for her to try out the board, she needn’t pay, but she insisted. Steve then took a minute or so to help get his older surf dog, “Be-be” up on a cushioned ledge for a snooze. I noted on a photo- wall behind him a long-haired surfer with a dog on the front of the board.” Y’up,” he said, “that’s me and Bebe.” All in a sunny day at the laid-back Surf School.
I asked about an exciting surf competition coming up the 29th of March. “We generally have two competitions a year,” Steve explained, “One the weekend before Christmas and one in the Spring.” This competition to be held in just a few weeks already has 70 registered for the event, the majority men, but at least a dozen women will give it a go. There will be four local judges for the event one Senior Judge and three sub-judges. “We rely on our team of volunteers to help. There is a lot that goes on behind the scenes to make this a successful competition,” he emphasized.
This is an all-day event with many heats and five contestants in the water at one time. They each wear a different colored surf shirt (orange, white, blue, red, green) so the judges can make the calls shouting out the color versus a number. The women, as the smaller group, just has two divisions: 17 years and under and 18 years and over. The men have those categories plus a 40 to 55 years and a “legend’s division.”
The wave conditions of the day set the bar for the types of competition, whether it will be the longest ride, moves on the board, tricks etc. I asked if there had ever been a competition with a table flat day. “No, each competition day has been amazing. Winds could be down the day before, but the surf always turns up on that day. I believe what you put in, you always get out.”
A bonus to this year’s event has been organized by Sophie Stanton, Director of Creative Waves, a Creative Arts Fund encouraging creativity in the BVI. Steve donated six older boards that local artists will paint and bring back for sale at a booth on the beach. The artists will receive a portion of the sales, and the rest goes to the BVI Surf School. Maybe some of those artists will end up surfers. A real win-win for both!
