Excellent waves and high scoring performances culminated an outstanding final day to the opening event to the Rip Curl GromSearch 2009/2010 Series presented by SNICKERS at Jan Juc Beach in Victoria.
With a new solid groundswell and clean offshore winds lighting up the entire Surfcoast region Australia’s top 16 year and under surfers were able to unleash all their talents and high scoring performances were the only way to win.
The Blue ribbon Boys and Girls 16 and under finals were both high scoring with the Boys final getting down to a wave for wave close battle which saw Cronulla’s Connor O’Leary take the win by just 0.25 points ahead of Byron Bay’s Soli Bailey with Tasmania’s Hamish Renwick 3rd and Lennox Head/NSW surfer Nikki Hoskin in 4th.
“So pleased to win the first event of the series, it takes the pressure off by winning this one as I’m now qualified for the national final” said O’Leary after his win.
“It’s my second win on the GromSearch series, I won in Cronulla last year and now I’ll aim to try and win the series for this year” added O’Leary.
The girl’s final saw a dominating performance from Phillip Island’s Nikki Van Dijk who scored the days highest wave score of a 9.2 early in the final to take a massive lead that was never seriously challenged.
Van Dijk is the defending GromSearch Girls 16 international champion and she’s very keen to defend that title next Easter.
“Great to win the first event on the series and I’m looking forward to the final now – I’ll compete in a few more GromSearch events this year but winning today is great as I’m qualified and can relax and concentrate on defending the title next Easter.”
Van Dijk defeated fellow Phillip Island surfer India Payne who found a strong 6 point ride late in final to move into second place ahead of interstate surfers Brodie Doyle (Qld) and Lauren McAleer (NSW).
Soli Bailey’s performance today was exceptional, despite losing the closest final in the 16 Boys, he took a convincing win in the 14 Boys final where he posted two excellent 8 point plus rides to defeat Jake Thompson (NSW), Chris Robertson (NSW) and Kai Hing (Qld).
The Girls 14 and under final saw another great performance from Victorian Phillip Island region surfer Kelly Laity (Sandy Point) who won the final over Indiana Green (NSW).
Twelve and under winners were Jemima Hutchins (Barwon Heads) and Jaemes Young (NSW/Angourie).
Full spreads sheets of results are available from www.surfingaustralia.com
As the opening event to the seven event series for 2009/2010 all surfers here were hoping to get off to a great start and pick up valuable series ratings points.
All winners of the 16’s division get an invite to Bell’s for the National Final and following on from last year the highest placed non event winner on the GromSearch Ratings will also get an invite.
Eventual ratings winners of the 14’s divisions will get a two board quiver from one of Rip Curl’s leading shapers.
Today’s SNICKERS wave of the day went to Nikki Van Dijk for her outstanding 9.2 winning ride in the final.
