RIP CURL GROMSEARCH SERIES – CRONULLA FINALS

Cooper Chapman (North Narrabeen, NSW) was the star of the show today.

Cronulla, NSW — The final instalment of the Rip Curl GromSearch Series presented by SNICKERS, was run and won today.

Having seen 140 of the best, 16 years and under, surfers in the country congregate at Cronulla over the past four days, today saw the crowning of four new Rip Curl GromSearch champions.

Heralding his sparkling rise to form was Cooper Chapman (North Narrabeen, NSW), who took out the 14 years and under division in style.

“I’m so stoked,” said the current 16 years and under Australian champion.

“I knew that it was going to be such a hard final to win,” he said after defeating Noa Deane (Coolangatta, QLD), Tyler Hutchinson (North Narrabeen, NSW) and Zac Scott (Maroubra, NSW).

With level of junior surfing being pushed beyond recognition, over the past few days, Chapman knew it would take something special to take the crown.

“I was really nervous having seen all the guys ripping throughout the contest – I knew that I had to get big scores to take it out,” Chapman admitted.

And that he did.

Racking up a massive 16.33 (out of a possible 20), which included a near-flawless 9.5 (out of a possible 10), Chapman was always going to be hard to beat.

In the 14 years and under girls division it was Nikki Van Dijk (Phillip Island, VIC) who continued to excellent run of form at Cronulla.

Nikki Van Dijk (Phillip Island, VIC) added another Rip Curl GromSearch win to her bow.

“I’m really happy to have finished the event off with a strong performance – to get the win is a bonus,” she said.

However, she did not have it all her own way.

Within the opening minute Fiona Casey (South West Rocks, NSW) put Van Dijk, Lauren McAleer (North Curl Curl, NSW) and Holly-Sue Coffey (Narrabeen, NSW), under the pump – racking up a perfect 10 just after the opening hooter.

“I knew I had to be on my game after that,” Van Dijk said.

“I tried not to think about it too much and just surf within myself.”

Having finished second in the premier division, 16 years and under, Van Dijk was unstoppable – winning her third Rip Curl GromSearch event for the Series.

“I like surfing against the older girls as it forces me to improve my surfing, she admitted.

“Coming to Sydney for the first time was awesome for me – it’s always good to know what’s going on in the other states.”

Michael Wright (Culburra, NSW) took out the 12 years and under division in one most scintillating 20-minute heats of the event.

Pitted against fellow prodigy Jack Germain (Port Macquarie, NSW), who racked up a perfect 10-point ride in the semi-final, Wright put on a show for the spectators accumulating 16.00 (out of a possible 20).

Ripping apart the one-metre conditions at the famed Sydney beach break, Wright, Germain, Luke Hynd (Newport, NSW) and Fraser Dovell (Avalon, NSW) provided a window into the future of Australian professional surfing.

Following in the footsteps of 16 years and under champion, and fellow Cronulla local, Cronulla girl Veronica Charles took out the 12 years and under division in front of a euphoric local crowd.

Defeating Holly Wawn (Newport, NSW), Holly-Sue Coffey (Narrabeen, NSW) and Cali McDonough (North Curl Curl, NSW), Charles was all smiles after being crowned state champion in the GromSearch Series presented by SNICKERS.

For more information be sure to log onto www.ripcurl.com

Dee Why: summmmmmer!

Mona Vale

The waves are pretty small today, a few little rip bowl ones but more or less just worth a swim!

Manly

Very small at Manly today with the NE wind already blowing, there is not much to get excited about. There is a small number of guys out centred around a little peak off Ceramic Ln.

Manly stretch - tiny

Queensie corner - no wind but no waves either

small and weak little waves are the only things on offer

Reflection.

Remember when we were small and the surf was no good we’d body-surf the shore break, getting “barrelled” and having a total body exfoliation, risking spinal injury and laughing so hard when we got up having more sand in our hair than hair? It’s too small to even do that today.

Narrabeen Rpt

Still crap. Nice day, but

C C

Fine, dry and mild on the Central Coast this Tuesday morning.  The swell is smooth, weak and small at 1 – 2 feet from the east.  There is a light north northwest breeze forecast to go northeast and strengthen later.  High tide 0435 and low tide around 1130.  Local barometer 1009 hpa, 92% humidity, 18 degrees C.  Have a good one.

Early Riser’s call

Hello Friends,

Another early riser’s call for ya.

At 0330 this morning the wind was still 8-12 kts from NNE. By the time it gets light, the Bureau says you can expect it to be around the same velocity. As the day warms up, the NE will accelerate and the call is for up to 20-30 kts by this afternoon.

Given the dire state of the waves yesterday at many places, I wouldn’t be too hopeful about this morning’s prospects. However, there should be something in the way of a little wind wave in those semi-protected corners late in the afternoon – particularly if the wind happens to throttle back a little toward dusk.

Bureau says the swell is out of the SE at 1.5 metres. The nearest operational MHL buoy to the south of Sydney is at Batemans Bay and it’s currently showing a metre of (wind)swell at about 7 seconds coming from the NNE. So, not too fab looking prospects-wise.

Sydney’s set for another toasty one with highs in the upper twenties on the coast, grading to mid-thirties inland. Cloud is expected to increase later in the day and there might even be the odd afternoon thunderstorm. Typical summer weather.

It looks to me as though this general pattern is likely to persist through the rest of the work week and into the start of the weekend.

Go well with your day!