CARIB 7-8 20/4/09 15:39 Page 44
knowledge barbados
ttglive.com
Watersports
Where to find
beach action
Forget lounging around with Simon Cowell and the jet
set crowd – hanging out with Brian Talma at Silver Sands
is the coolest place to be. Matt Parsons goes surfing
on the south coast, and looks at what other coasts offer Ambassador for Barbados: Brian Talma (right) at Silver Sands
T
he dreadlocked DJ at the water- hair, blue eyes, and full of energy. He took to kite-surfing, or, for the less adventurous,
sports centre didn’t take a break the mic to outline for us the ethos of his conch blowing – ahead of the conch-off
the whole time we were there. “deAction Beach Shop”. It is a community later in the afternoon.
With a sound system the height of affair where anyone passing through, such Talma introduced the instructors, who we
a small house, he blasted out summery, as backpackers, is welcome. If you want to followed to the beach to learn the theory.
chilled-out reggae to the appre- stay and live with the people in
ciative crowd on the beach all the community, that’s also fine Catching my first ever wave
day long. – you’re invited. Following a disastrous attempt at windsurfing,
But don’t be misled – we The centre, on the south I opted for surfing. The instructors are very
were not there to relax. You coast’s Silver Sands beach, is a patient and will spend as long as it takes,
can forget sun loungers, waiter little rough around the edges, one-on-one, to help you catch your first
y
service and all-inclusive bars at but that lends to its appeal, and wave. In my case, this took two hours, and
Talma’s place. We were there for
uthorit
the setting is lush and tropical, involved someone pushing the board as the
some “action”.
ourism A
thanks to a stream nearby. wave approached, to help me get the speed.
Brian Talma is an enigmatic The resort provides tuition in I may have stood for only five seconds, but it
character with sun-bleached Barbados T surfing, windsurfing and was a triumph in my mind.
The problem with all the hard work in the
Win a signed Brian Talma ‘deAction Diary’!
WIN
water is that it can leave you out of breath
for the conch blowing.
Brian Talma is an ambassador for Barbados, and Bajan beach culture. There was lots of whooping and cheering
A professional windsurfer, he spent years on the professional windsurfing as our two finalists battled it out to make
circuit, where he promoted Barbados as a watersports destination. He now the best horn noise come out of a shell.
runs his own watersports centre (see
briantalma.com for more info). To win a signed copy A couple of German tourists had been
of his “action-packed” diary (right), we will pick at random three people who answer this practising in the afternoon, but members
question correctly: On what coast is Talma’s “deAction Beach Shop” located? Email your of our group managed to beat them.
answers to
pjacks@ttglive.com by Friday, May 1, 2009. The winner was crowned with Talma’s
own sea-shell necklace.
44 24.04.2009
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