Icah Wilmot became the first local surfing champion after winning the Men's Open event at the fourth renewal of the International MAKKA pro surfing tournament, which ended in Southaven, Yallahs, St Thomas yesterday.

The victory was the second for Jamaican surfers out of three finals, after Akeem Taylor blew away his competition to win the junior category.

The female title went to Barbados' Chelsea Tauch.

Open champion Wilmot said he has tried desperately to win this event over the years, but has always fallen short.

"I've always come pretty close, but this time I just put my all in it and went out and surfed as best as I could," he said.

"It's a great experience to be the first Jamaican to win the title here, it's a really great feeling," he added.

Wilmot, with 10.3 points, topped the Open event ahead of fellow Jamaicans Shane Simmonds with 8.5 points, and favourite Travis Ajay of the US into third with 6.6 points.

Junior champion Taylor, also became the first local to win his events.

The youngster stated that the victory will significantly boost his confidence going into upcoming tounaments in Barbados and Trinidad, and will help to advance his surfing career.

"I had hoped the waves would be bigger, but I still went all the way, although they were small. But this will help me to do good in Barbados and Trinidad," he said.

Taylor won the event with 10.77 points, with Elisham Beckford second with 9.8 and Garren Pryce third with 9.5 points.

In the women's competition, the Bajan Tauch tallied 13.33 to sweep a strong field, including Jamaicans Imani Wilmot, into second with 5.73.

The Barbadian said selecting good waves was the key to her victory.

"I love MAKKA pro and I love winning this event, but out there I got the right waves and I took them, so I was really happy with my performance," she said.

Jamaica's surfing president and local legend Anthony 'Billy' Wilmot said winning two events for the first time meant Jamaica was making a statement in the sport, "and we feel proud", he said.

The international tournament which hosted surfers from as far as Australia, the Phillipines, United States, Barbados and Trinidad, also received much media attention, which included live streaming on the internet courtesy of sponsor DEKAL wireless.

The event which was threatened by intermittent drizzle all afternoon, has continued to established itself as a growing calender event for the Southaven/Yallahs community, which turned out in droves to support the event.

The four-year-old competition was also higly endorsed by 20-year-old American female finalist Gillian Gensler.