LOCAL SURFERS dominated Trinidadian waves when the Caribbean Surf Network (CSN) kicked off its 2008 Suzuki Challenge Cup tour in the twin-island republic over the weekend.

Ametza Nicholls, Jade Niccolls, Bruce Mackie, Lewis St John and Mark Holder demolished the regional opposition and did the country proud in the Sansouci Pro, in Toco, Trinidad.

In the ladies' division Ametza Nicholls placed first; Jamaican Danielle Ohyan was second, while another local girl, Jade Niccolls, was third.

In the Juniors' Division, local boys took the top two positions, with Lewis St John and Bruce Mackie placing first and second respectively. Trinidadians Jeffrey Jarvis and O'Neal Coa were third and fourth respectively.

St John also took top honours in the men's final, with Trinidadian Chris Dennis second, Guadeloupe surfer Thibault Bremeol third, while local Bathsheba surfer Mark Holder rounded out the top four.

Did well

CSN co-ordinator Nick Donawa said the surfers excelled in rapidly changing conditions during the three-day event.

"When we got here it was at the end of a swell, so the waves were around four to six feet," he said.

"But then on Sunday, it was really nice; three to four feet, clean walls, not a cloud in the sky and a gentle breeze," he told the DAILY NATION.

The next stop on the CSN tour is Brandons Beach over the Easter weekend. Surfers are then off to Jamaica in July and are back in Barbados, in September, for the Soup Bowl Pro.

Trinidadian Alan Davis is the current points leader with Mark Holder in second position. Local surfers Christopher Clarke and St John are fifth and sixth respectively in the points standings.

In the ladies' division, Jade Niccolls is first in the points standings, followed by Ametza Nicholls, Melanie Pitcher, Chelsea Roett and Chelsea Tuach.