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Water Boy is an apt nickname for a little toddler who could swim before he could walk.  This name stuck to Jordan Heaselgrave as week after week locals marveled at the toddler splashing around in the surf in front of his parents favorite dive shop.   Accompanied by his parents he was in his element with a mask and snorkel swimming around the shallow wrecks and among the schools of fish.

Fourteen years later, nothing much has changed for Jordan on his island home of Barbados.

Jordan exhibits a natural comfort with the ocean, fully at ease and in tune with the waves around him.  Whether he is pursuing his first love, surfing, or out in the much deeper waters where the big fish run, it is obvious he was born to be in the sea.

His true passion emerged with his very first bodyboard, encouraged by his older brother, Zach.  They would go out to the local beach breaks almost every evening and it wasn’t long before Zach had his little brother standing on the bodyboard yelling for a surfboard.

Now Jordan surfs with the power and grace not usually found in someone of his age.  Surf trips throughout South America and Europe, as well as California and Florida have bought into sharp focus the challenges he faces ahead. He is a young man who knows what has to be done, and one who has the drive and talent to achieve his goals.

But none of this happened overnight. With his Dad as the taxi driver, they would do dawn patrols every day before school.  Then straight into the surf after school until it was too dark to see. Weekends were much the same, but without the school in the middle… just more surfing.  Living in Barbados you are never far from the beach. Spoiled for choice, beach break, reef, lefthanders, or right. It is a rare day when there’s no surf. On his home island of Barbados the sun is up by 5.30 am and it’s dark again pretty much by 6.30 pm. 365 days of the year. The only complication is how to fit it all in a day.

As the passion grew, the results followed.  Already an integral part of the Barbados National team traveling to the ISA Junior Surf Championships, after the second year as National Junior Champion he became more and more focused on international competitions.

“Jordan is a very stylish and progressive surfer. At the same time he is quite a happy go lucky young teen, and his style is a mixed combination of new school and traditional rail surfing,” said the Barbados Surfing Association’s Executive Committee member, Simon Coles.  “Jordan’s progression at this time is nothing short of phenomenal.  He has proven in Barbados locally and internationally that he has what it takes to win events. With great knowledge of wave selection and utilization Jordan always seems to get those waves necessary to showcase his talents with great heat strategy and management. At 16 years of age Jordan is now starting to fill out with more power and flow in his repertoire both front side and backside, and he is quite an accomplished tube rider.

Constant travel and competition schedules are really not compatible with school and class work. No matter how accommodating your school may be. Eventually Jordan left his school in Barbados to enroll in a US Diploma course through an online home school. The ability to take your school with you when traveling is an amazing concept, something for which all parents of talented athletes should be thankful.

At only 16, Jordan has vast experience in all aspects of the surfing world. A shy retiring young man, always good company with an easy manner and a kind word or helping hand for anyone.  But focused and unforgiving when called for.  You dare not take his shyness for weakness, otherwise you will be packing your board bags and heading home early if you do.

“Additionally, Jordan possesses one attribute often seen by the 9x world champ; he has a great time when competing.  Be careful when you see the blond 16 year old smiling and laughing in a contest jersey. It will mean he is having a good time and big scores will be thrown down,” concluded Coles.

 

Full Name: Jordan Heaselgrave

Nickname: Jordy, or sometimes just J

Date & Place of Birth: 11/24/93 in Barbados

Hometown: Stewart Hill, St. John

Height/weight: 5’6”/120lbs

Stance: Regular

Sponsors: Pure Island Surfboards, Pacsun,

Ranking: Under 16 National Champion 2008/2009

Quiver: Depends on how many I broke that week

Surf Crew: South Point and Soup Bowl crew

School: Penn Foster (online)

Grade: 10

I started surfing in: 2004 at: Parlour

Local surf spot: Soup Bowl

Favorite wave: Tropicana/Secret Spot

Hot Dog Stick- every day board: 5’9” round pin Pure Island

Magic Stick- favorite board ever: The last fatality, a 5’8” Pure Island

Big Wave Gun: 6’5” Pure Island

Best Session: New Year’s Day at Duppies, here at home. It was goin’ off. I enjoyed the Quiksilver event at Pleasure Point, Santa Cruz, that whole experience was just so much fun.

Best Contest result: Winning the Under 16 Barbados National title again this year. And away, I would say the same Quiksilver event at Pleasure Point.  Oh, and winning a Volcom Crustateous tour event to qualify for the finals last year.

 

Favorite Maneuver: Up reverse

Secret Weapon: cut backs

Workin’ on: Rodeo Flip…so close

Dream maneuver: Gorkin Flip…still dreamin’

Favorite Surfer: Dane Reynolds fo sho.

Favorite Shaper: Frank Mattola, Pure Island Surfboards.

Top 5 Surfers: Dane, Clay, Donovan and local boys Stewart Stoute and Nicky Marshall.

Top 5 Surf dvd’s: not big into watching DVD’s. I’d rather be out in the water

Top 5 Music bands: Sean Paul, Cobra Starship, Jeremia, Plain White t’s, Justin Beiber

 

Best Post-surf Munchies: anything my pocket change can buy at the nearest gas station

Favorite Food: banana splits rule

Tail Slide or Rail Carve? Tail Slide

Get Barreled or Get Air? Get Barreled

Contest Machine or Soul Surfer? Contest Machine

Paddle or Tow?  Tow.. never done it, just want to try it.

Log or Fish?  Fish

Epoxy or Polyester? polyester fo sho

My favorite thing about surfin’ is: just being in the water with the sun on my back. Oh, and of course the girls.

In ten years I see myself: living it up in Australia, “mate”.

If I’m not in the water, I’m probably: going crazy (or filling out an interview…lol) J

You’d never guess I’m also pretty good at: taking things apart, losing my dads tools is pure talent!  Haven’t quite mastered putting stuff back together yet though.  Free diving too.

If I couldn’t Surf I’d definitely be: Don’t know, good thing I can surf.  I’d like to own a sailboat.

Most of what I’ve accomplished in this sport I owe it to: Cha, my Dad. He’s my personal taxi, money man, coach, and all around supporter.  Pure Island for hooking me up with amazing sticks and all the Bajan crew who push me to my limit; Simon Coles, Nick Donawa, Jono Reece, Brow Brian Gooding, and Uncle Charlie Allen to name just a few.

I have a recurrent dream about: when I was younger I’d have this dream about this boulder spinning, getting bigger and bigger.  Freaked me out, my mom too because my sister had the same dream.

One thing I’d like people to know about me is: that I’ve been in the sea my entire life. No lie, when I was two years old everybody called me “waterboy” because I was swimming before I could walk.  Only in the last year have I overcome my fear of touching fish.

Open Mic – Last Words:  I really would like to take this opportunity to say thanks to everyone who has pushed me to where I am now.