Six Under-16 Jamaican surfers were scheduled to depart yesterday on the return leg of the Jamaica Surfing Association (JSA)/Surfing Association of Trinidad & Tobago (SATT) Caribbean Youth Exchange Programme.

They will be staying in the twin-island state for a week as guests of their regional neighbours. They are Elishama Beckford, Akeem Taylor, Garren Pryce, Oshane Usher, Ivah Wilmot and Dwight Roberts.

The exercise is designed to build regional camaraderie by allowing young surfers to experience firsthand what life is like for their peers as they strengthen friendships formed during the first leg of the programme in Jamaica back in July.

The T&T surfing community has embraced the opportunity to share their waves, knowledge, and experience with the keen group of young surfers from Jamaica.

Surfing T&T has recruited its top personnel to work as facilitators of the programme to ensure the highest quality experience is produced in order to meet the high standard set on the first leg of the programme by the JSA. Professional surfer and past national champion Jason Apparicio will be the technical director of the programme with a focus on the performance surfing aspect.

Other guest facilitators include Che Lovelace (performance surfing), Troy Hadeed (yoga for surfers), and Alan Davis (surfboard shaping and repair).

Also assisting the YEP will be top Jamaican surfer and coach Icah Wilmot, and the JSA executive secretary Maggie Wilmot. The group of approximately 15 young surfers from Jamaica and T&T will spend seven days experiencing a variety of attractions in the twin island state. They begin in Toco for the weekend where they will surf several beach/rock breaks and visit the Surfing T&T Youth Development Programme taking place in Salibea. They will then take the T&T Express Fast Ferry to Tobago to surf the picturesque reef breaks of Mt Irvine and visit tourist attractions like Argyle Falls, Fort King George, and Buccoo Reef.