Alan Burke’s Barbados
This week we talk with Barbados’ first pro surfer and former Barbados Surfing Association president: Alan Burke.
Local Currents is a series about surfers that live in a place we often visit, sharing with us their local recommendations and intel about their homes.
Talk to us about Barbados, growing up there, being a pro surfer from the Caribbean…how’d you get into surfing and are you one of the first generations to do it there?
I was fortunate to grow up on a beach which is actually named after my family: Burke’s Beach. My grandfather grew up there, my Dad was born and raised there, as was myself, and as a matter of fact, I have never not lived on the beach so it was only natural to be involved in basically every water sport there is. The entire Burke family is very sporting-oriented; I played tennis, table tennis, football (soccer), nearly every sport, but surfing and football I excelled in. I loved football as much as I love surfing, but I got my break in surfing after placing 7th in the Junior division of the 1986 ISA World Championships at Fistral Beach, England becoming the first individual sports person from Barbados to place in the top 10 at a world championship level. This set me up to becoming Barbados’ first pro surfer and for a full-time pro surfing career over the following 12 years.
Your sons are now pro surfers too, right?
Yes. My oldest son, Josh, is currently ranked #53 on the World Surf League ratings, after becoming the first surfer from here to qualify on to the WSL Mens Challenger Series tour.
Your surf school is pretty world famous…how’d you get it that way?
My first official lesson was in 1993 when I was competing and getting lots of coverage in the local press. Quite often, a hotel reception would contact me asking if I taught surfing and one day I said yes. The lesson went amazing, although the boards I used were old and beaten. The guest had a great time and so did I and from that day onwards, I knew that was what I wanted to do. I have been involved in every single aspect of surfing; it’s my love and I feel blessed to have clients that hire me for my knowledge. I have so many clients that have become family and my best friends. It’s very rewarding to teach someone to surf, especially when they think they won’t even stand up and it happens on the very first wave. Surfing has made my life!
So, what’s your favorite wave in Barbados to teach someone to surf at and why?
Freights Bay is without a doubt the Numero Uno wave in the world to teach and to learn to surf. Turquoise water with friendly surfers that share long, perfectly peeling glassy, gentle waves while surfing with numerous turtles. Please enlighten me if there is somewhere better.
Very, very cool. What are your favorite 3 breaks in the Caribbean?
Mt. Irvine on Tobago. It’s a long, high performance right, with every kind of section, and razor-sharp fire coral. Second, is Wilderness in Puerto Rico. It’s a long right, with a medium to long left. Rippable when small but gets 15-foot-plus, over flat reef. The last is a secret one I haven’t surfed yet on an island not far from here…
Favorite 3 breaks on Barbados…
- Brandon’s (my home break), which is a long, rippable left and short right with an air section at the end, with flat reef bottom.
- Soup Bowl, which is a heavy, hollow right with a powerful medium length left. Razor sharp flat reef bottom with millions of sea urchins.
- Duppies, which is an exotic location, beautiful scenery, and is a long powerful right, ideal for big carves. There’s a hollow section on the inside, a soft, mushy, medium length left. Flat reef bottom with some coral heads.
Favorite Barbadian food…
Breadfruit Cou Cou with Flying Fish. (Our National Dish). Pudding and Sauce is a Saturday tradition introduced by the Scottish in the 1700s (Pickled pork and sweet potatoes). And then barracuda done any style with mash potatoes and vegetables.
Favorite 3 restaurants in Barbados?
Cafe Luna, Primo, and 111 East Beach Bar.
Is Carnaval a big thing in Barbados, and is that a cool time to come and experience it?
Yes. We call it Kadooment and it’s massive. A must-do if you enjoy having fun, dancing, and some alcohol.
Favorite things to do/see around Barbados when the surf is flat…
- I have never seen the waves totally flat and unrideable here, actually. With the right choice of board and attitude it’s always fun, however if I am not surfing, taking a coastal island tour is a must. It’s so beautiful here.
- Taking a Cool Runnings Catamaran cruise or any of the catamarans are great.
- Going out on a friend’s boat and/or packing a cooler and going to a beach for the day with my wife Sonz and friends.
Anywhere in the Caribbean that you haven’t surfed but you’ve always wanted to?
Cane Garden Bay on Tortola, and there is a secret spot on an island just north of here that I plan to hit one day.
Advice for anyone coming to surf Barbados: What to pack, what not to pack?
Besides the usual sunscreen, if you are coming to learn, no need to bring anything. I provide all that you will require. If you are an intermediate to expert shortboarder, best to bring your quiver, or you can rent here. Experienced longboarders will need to rent, as I don’t think the airlines allow 9-foot anymore. In a nutshell, pack light, it’s the tropics, so boardshorts/bikinis, casual wear, and if you plan to fine dine or night life party, bring that kind of apparel.
Nice. You and Kelly Slater are pretty tight, no? How’d he start staying with you on Barbados?
I first met Kelly in Barbados in April 1985 when the Cocoa Beach High School brought a team here with Carol Holland, Todd’s mum. Kelly’s brother Sean, Todd, and an entire crew of absolute rippers were on that trip. After that, I went to Florida and spent 3 weeks in the Slater household with Auntie Judy, Sean, Kelly, and Stevie. Actually, during that trip I almost killed the future 11-time champ because I had never driven in the USA, and in Barbados we drive on the left, so we were going to Sebastian Inlet, and Kelly had to frantically alert me that I was on the wrong side as a 10-wheeler truck was heading our way on the A1A down by Melbourne.
Anyway, we kept competing and bumping into each other at all the National team events and I was always on the Barbados team and he on the USA team… But the last time we competed against each other was in the 2002 Olympio Barbados Pro at Soup Bowl. We both made the finals, Kelly won, I got 3rd. This was during his short retirement and I was Barbados Surfing Association President at the time and invited him over. At the awards ceremony, Kelly donated the winnings back to the BSA and during his acceptance speech he said he didn’t come to Barbados for the money, he came to surf and hang with his friends. Classic Kelly.
Surf Barbados with Alan Burke
— Alan Burke, Burkie
