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Melanie Pitcher was born
in Barbados in 1974, where she lived till she was six. Her family,
6th generation Barbadians, then moved to Miami, Florida . “ It was
good growing up in a big city, I was able to do and see so much more
than I would have growing up on a small island and I am able to
appreciate it more now. ” says Melanie.
From an early age Melanie loved horses, and followed her dream and
became a accomplished Equestrian. She rode horses for sixteen years
and also became a trainer, teaching kids how to ride.
When Melanie turned 22, she knew that the city life wasn’t
for her any more. She could remember the time living in
Barbados and spending many days at the beach. She had always
had a fascination with surfing, and decided she wanted to
learn to surf…..and she was determined to get good.
She bought a
surfboard and started surfing in February 1996. Now Miami
was not a place for consistent waves, but thankfully there
were quite a few good swells during those first months. “And
if it was flat I would paddle.” recalls Melanie. During
these first few months of surfing she became addicted and
had to move somewhere she could surf all the time. She was
thinking of California, or North Florida.
Then in June of the same year she heard a voice from heaven,
a light went on, and her live was changed forever.
“Open a guest house for surfers at Soup Bowl in Barbados”
the voice whispered. “I flew off the couch where I was
sitting at my mom’s house and told her what I was going to
do.” remembers Melanie.
She immediately started planning. Having never really
contemplated the idea before, it was all new and exciting to
her. The name of the guest house would be "Bajan Surf
Bungalow", she decided with out much deliberation. A
trip to Barbados had already been planned in August for her
cousin's wedding.
The trip was fruitful , and the PERFECT house was available
to lease right in front of the world famous Soup Bowl. She
went back to Miami packed up everything she would need and
moved back “home” on October 7, 1996.
Bajan Surf Bungalow opened its doors the following week with
Pat O’Connell, Ross Williams, Mike Rommelse, Saxon Boucher
and photographer Tom Servais being the first guests. They
scored 100% perfection at Soup Bowl for a whole week. As a
result a 10 page article was featured in Surfer Magazine.
“Besides our incredible luck of coming into a swell with
glassy offshore conditions for a whole week, The Bajan Surf
Bungalow is insane! And we were the first group. Guinea pigs
as they say, but I don’t know how a place could be any
better!!” Quoted from the BSB guest book, written by Tom
Servais.
Luck? Melanie knows it was Gods confirmation that she had
done exactly what she was destined to do. Melanie’s
guest house was open from October 1996 till she closed the
doors on April 30, 2004. During the last few years of
business Melanie became a new mom. Darian Shea was born
December 31, 2001. When she became pregnant with her second
child, she decided that it was best to just be a MOM for a
while. Kelsey Kay was born December 29, 2004.
“Moving to Barbados and running my guest house was the
greatest experience I could have ever imagined. I met so
many fascinating people form all over the world and acquired
so many wonderful friends.” Says Melanie. Bajan Surf
Bungalow is greatly missed, locally as well as
internationally.
After being at home for two years, missing being involved in
the surf world. Melanie has began a new venture,
Barbados Surf Trips. “I’m ready again to show my
beautiful island to great people from all over the world.
This is where my heart is. I desire to help visiting surfers
enjoy, and make the most out of their vacation.” Proclaims
Melanie. For the last 4 years Melanie has been running
Barbados Surf Trips. Most days are spent teaching the joy of
surfing, driving people around, surfing Barbados' best
breaks, and planning surf vacations for visiting surfers.
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New News- Melanie is trying to get
back Bajan Surf Bungalow, check out more of her story (click
logo below)
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