Rookie Brown not intimidated by WSG debut

Jamaica will have a debutant at this year’s International Surfing Association (ISA) World Surfing Games (WSG) as Portland native Javaun Brown will literally get his feet wet for the nation on the global stage.

Javi, as he is known in the surfing circles, is expected to showcase his talent which he honed on the Boston Bay waves in Portland at El Sunzal and La Bocana with the former junior surfer eager and ready to go in the Men’s Open category, despite the more challenging conditions.

“My main aim is to go out there and do my best and what I really hope to achieve is to make it through the rounds and in the process help the national team to get the much-needed points to improve our world ranking.”

The 24-year-old Brown has been in El Salvador for the past week getting acclimatised to the waves which he explains are a bit different from what he is used to in Portland.

“The waves here in El Salvador are bigger and more powerful. This is an international competition, so there is no backing down. You have to read the waves as best as you can and hopefully get the scores which will be favourable in the eyes of the judges,” Brown said.

The number three ranked surfer in Jamaica has set a realistic goal of making a couple of heats which he believes will go a long way in building his confidence for future games.

“I have been surfing for over 17 years now and I have always wanted to travel and represent my country. I must say it is also great to see some of the top surfers up close as I have only seen them on social media and that can only build my confidence and motivate me to know that I am surfing in the same competition as them,” he added.

Brown, whose surfing idol is Italo Ferreira of Brazil, says he has been enjoying his time in Central America and hopes his first international assignment will be one to remember.

“Everything has been great so far, the food has been good but it is very hot here in El Salvador, even hotter than Jamaica, but we are here to do a job and we will do it to the best of our ability,” Brown added.