SERVING SURFERS SINCE 1996
About
Melanie Pitcher
Melanie Pitcher was born in Barbados in 1974, where she lived till she was six. Her family, 10th 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.
Melanie Pitcher was born in Barbados in 1974, where she lived till she was six. Her family, 10th 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.
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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.
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Six years ago after being at stay at home mom for two years, Melanie missing being involved in the surf world. In 2006 She started 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. Most of her days are spend driving people around, surfing Barbados' best breaks, and planning surf vacations for visiting surfers.