Fourteen-year-old Ametza Nicholls and 12-year-old Chelsea Tuach ( seen here in action ) were two of just 20 surfers from 16 countries around the world who are now world-wide surfing ambassadors.

Nicholls, a student at The St Michael School, and Tuach, a first-former at Queen's College, ended last year ranked first and second respectively in the Open Ladies Division while Nicholls is the reigning Under-18 Girls' champion and Tuach the Under-12 champion.

Both have already secured their places on the junior team that will be travelling to the ISA Junior World Championships in France in May.

The two were ecstatic on hearing the news and both see this as a step on the path to turning pro.

"I want to be a pro surfer and go on the women's world surfing circuit and travel," said Chelsea, who has been surfing since she was seven.

After the initial euphoria on learning the news, Chelsea explained: "It's [the ISA scholarship] really good for my surfing 'cause the money I'm going to get will let me go to France."

The first-former, whose dream was always to attend Queen's College, said she was doing well at school. Juggling school work and surfing is no problem for her, she said, adding that she tried to complete homework at school and then put two hours in the water.

For Ametza who burst onto the local surfing scene in late 2004, her dream of turning pro seems one step closer to reality with the scholarship.

But she frankly admitted she had to cross the immediate hurdle of Caribbean Examination Council's (CXC) exams.

"Right now I have some CXCs like Maths and I'm supposed to be going to France, but I have some CXCs around the same time so I'm not quite sure how that is going to work out," she said.

"Right now I'm hoping to turn pro, but I want to concentrate on my CXCs so at least if that doesn't work out I can have them to fall back on."

She, too, has mastered the art of juggling school and work.

"I don't really have any problem," she explained. "I try to go every evening."

Ametza who has been to Brazil as part of the team that competed at ISA Junior Surfing Championships in Brazil, said overseas experience has made her a better surfer.

"You get to see other surfers and compare styles and it helps you to want to get better."

Both Ametza and Chelsea have credited older brothers with introducing them to the sport. In addition, they have also thanked president of the Barbados Surfing Association Andrew Lewis for having encouraged them to enter.

The scholarships were awarded on skill and academic ability and is intended to help finance overseas trips and equipment.