JERSEY surfers have made their mark – in more ways than one – in the 2004 Malibu Longboard Shootout in Tortola, British Virgin Islands, over the last few days.

The Island squad were competing with a field of international surfers from Hawaii, California, Florida, the UK, Puerto Rico, the US and hosts BVI.Star of the show was 16-year-old Jersey surfer Joe Davies who finished sixth overall in the main event, behind much older and more experienced surfers, after he battled back in the double elimination format in the final heats, from a second round defeat, to go very close to making it into the event final.

He surfed brilliantly and finished fourth in the heats, missing qualification for the final by just two places, but he had done more than enough to take the Junior title.Event organiser Andy Morrell said: ‘Joe Davies surfed very well.

His wave riding skills are excellent – he took off on big waves and spent plenty of time on the nose of the board.’More Jersey glory followed as veteran surfer Steve Harewood finished in 11th place overall and captured the Grand Master division while David Ferguson finished equal with Harewood in 11th place and David Ward finished 17th.

BVI resident Miles Walton, who is also from Jersey, was also 17th.At the awards ceremony Davies and Harewood collected trophies and cheques for their efforts – and Ferguson was offered the Environmental Destruction Award for an unceremonious encounter with the reef in front of the beach.Competitors had good conditions for the event, with 3-5 ft surf on day one and building 4-6 foot waves on the second day, and all competed on identical 9 ft 6 in Hamilton Surftech boards.

Overall winner was Hawaiian surfer Noah Shibamukuro; fellow-Hawaiian Lance Ho’okana was second, Florida’s Mike DeTemple third and legendary Californian longboarder Wingnut was fourth.