Icah Wilmot ... Jamaica Surfing Association's national champion for 2008. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer

Top Jamaican surfer Icah Wilmot won the fourth event of the five-event Jamaica Surfing Association (JSA) National Open Series held at Lighthouse surfing beach at Plumb Point on the Palisadoes peninsula at the weekend.

In so doing Icah secured the 1000 points on offer to amass an unassailable 3,860 points in the series with only one event remaining.

Picture perfect

The day was picture perfect with four-foot surf breaking over the world famous reef. The event attracted 25 entrants in the Open division including two Australians and an American. The women's division had five contestants. The first round consisted of four heats from which the top 13 advanced to round two. Three heats then narrowed the field to the top seven who went into the semi-final round to compete for a spot in the final.

Semi-final one saw Icah Wilmot, Luke Williams and Joel Lawrence facing off for two of the four available berths in the final. Sixteen waves were ridden in the 15-minute time limit but it was enough for Icah and Williams to put daylight between themselves and Joel.

Semi-final two had Inilek Wilmot pitted against Ackeam Phillips, Omar Jacks and Garren Pryce. The four surfers rode 26 waves between them with Phillips getting an amazing 10 waves from which the judges would select his top two. When the clock ticked out, Inilek and Phillips squeaked through to the final.

Grand face off

The grand face off was up next with undoubtedly Jamaica's top surfers in the water for the 20-minute final. Icah Wilmot, his brother Inilek, National under 18 champ Phillips and National open team member Williams were squaring off with 1000 points on board for the winner.

The surfers rode 33 waves among them with Inilek nabbing his full quota of 10 from which the judges picked the best two. When the spray settled and the results were announced, Icah Wilmot paddled away with the top spot and the 1000 points which gave him an unassailable total of 3,860 from four events and the championship series title for 2008.

"The standard of surfing has improved remarkably over the past 2-3 years. I feel very proud of the strides we have made in the sport," JSA president Billy Wilmot said.

The next and final event of the 2008 National Open Surf Championship series will be held at Boston Beach in Portland on December 20 beginning at 10:00 a.m.