Wilmot part of exploding girl power at World Surfing Games
SINCE THE 2018 edition, the International Surfing Association (ISA) World Surfing Games (WSG) has broken the record for female participation each year, attesting to the growth of women’s surfing all over the globe.
In 2023, a record 132 women (44 per cent of competitors) will compete and represent their nations in El Salvador, and among that group is Imani Wilmot, who will turn out for Jamaica in the women’s open division.
The 32-year-old Bull Bay native will be making her sixth appearance at the World Surfing Games, having debuted back in 2004 in Ecuador. This is also her second time in El Salvador, having competed at Surf City back in 2021.
A lot wiser and more prepared, Wilmot is keen to improve her performance from last year’s games in California, where the conditions weren’t as favourable for the current national champion.
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“What got the better of me last year was that I was new to the spot and we arrived a few days before the competition. This year, we got into El Salvador early and have been practising every day. I am really going to be pushing this time around as I am more comfortable with my equipment and have improved with some of the manoeuvres that I know will get good scores.”
Wilmot is confident that she can improve on her 81st-place ranking despite a stacked field, which includes three-time champion Sally Fitzgibbon of Australia and USA Olympic gold medallist and fourtime World Surfing League champion Carissa Moore.
“I definitely want to improve my standing, and the better I can do, the better it will be for the team with regard to points and ranking.”
Wilmot is sponsored by Sunbum, Surf Girls Jamaica, Jamnesia Surf Camp, IJS Hub, and Nessfab.