A New Talent Emerges

By Flynn Bush

Leading up to the start of the current CIWA season there was a rider that the association felt was worthy of a profile video on their Instagram page. He was a rookie rider who hadn’t even started his first race yet. It was this rider’s attitude, willingness to learn, and effort in training that predicted probable future success. At the first leg of this year’s season, that promise came to fruition.

James Munroe, Jr., has always had a love for the water and the thought of riding a jet ski was foremost in that. Knowing that about his son, James, Sr., made it a point to surprise him with a watercraft of his very own in the latter part of 2020. From then, it was regular hours-long riding sessions on the weekends.

The thought of competing in an actual sanctioned race was James, Jr’s, all alone but, his father made the contact to inquire about how to do it. After that contact, the aspiring star took it upon himself to learn as much as he could from other riders and board members of the Cayman Islands Watercraft Association. That approach would ultimately pay off.

Just over a week ago, James got his chance. On that day, with the water a little choppy, his father reassured him and encouraged him by telling him, “I don’t know how the other riders are going to ride, but I believe that if you can stay on the craft and run a clean run, you stand a good chance to be the winner.”

Riding in the rookie class, each rider rides alone and the places all come down to the fastest times. So, after his run (he was the first rider), James could only wait for the results to be announced at the end of the day. “Waiting was hard,” James says. “But my family were supportive, and I felt confident that I stood a chance. Then, when the results were announced, I was so happy.” He had claimed first place.

James, Jr, says, “It is my goal to be a world champion rider by the time I’m eighteen.” That is an ambitious goal. However, it is not an unheard one. The Cayman Islands have already produced world champion riders before. Perhaps, the legacy will continue with young James Munroe. He certainly has the aptitude and attitude to achieve his dream. He is a shining example of the bright future that this country has, because of our youth. Props to James Munroe, Jr.