Calling all kids, calling all kids. Grab your boards and head out to the fifth event of the Wahu Surfer Grom Comps to be held on Sydney’s Northern Beach (NSW) this weekend.

There’s no turning back now with four of the seven Wahu Comps done and dusted. The powerhouse event moves from the Gold Coast to Sydney’s pristine Northern Beaches where the next breed of potential Mick Fanning’s and Stephanie Gilmore’s will take to the water.

The all-grommet event has already seen some excellent results so far, not only here in NSW but all around Australia.

A major focus for the event is the junior development aspect, promoting a fun competitive environment with the seriousness of competing in a surfing contest.

One sure starter taking part is Under 15 boys standout Zack Lukas (Cudmirrah, NSW) who says he thrives on competition whether he’s surfing at Newcastle (NSW), Surfers Paradise (QLD) or this coming weekend on Sydney’s Northern Beaches (NSW).

“I’ve surfed a few times at Dee Why and Curl Curl (both contest location options), but it doesn’t matter where I surf as I’m always up for new and different breaks to take on,” said Lukas, “At the moment all the boys are surfing really well, so I’ll be hoping for some good waves and just try to surf my best”

Featuring Under 9 and Under 11 divisions, the Wahu Surfer Groms Comp events cater for younger male and female ‘micro-grommet’ aged surfers who generally have to compete against older kids rather than kids their own age. The event features a fully professional event setup with computer scoring and commentary giving the competitors a taste of what their surfing heroes are used to on the ASP World Tour.

Surfing Australia CEO Andrew Stark says he’s excited about what the Wahu Grom Competitions have delivered so far.

“These prestigious junior events not only provide a perfect national junior surfing development program for our sport, but they maximise participation of budding ‘micro-grommet’ surfers from all over the country,” said Stark.

Besides the surfing, Lukas says that he loves turning up to the Wahu grom competitions with all that the event has to offer.

“I love mucking around with all the beach games that they (Wahu) provide for us. It’s so much fun and it’s such a good break from competition and watching heats.”

Divisions to be contested include Under 15 boys and girls, Under 13 boys and girls, Under 11 boys and girls, Under 9 parent assist mixed and Under 15 boys and girls Bodyboard divisions.

Apart from the surfing, there’ll be loads of other activities happening on the beach with plenty for competitors to do between heats with Wahu footys, flyers and balls bouncing and flying around left, right and centre. However the fun won’t stop there, with awesome prize packs awarded to respective divisional winners.

The event is mobile on the Northern Beaches with Curl Curl, Dee Why and Long Reef Beaches the event venue options. Competition is expected to get under way each day at 7:45am with the daily running schedule and contest location confirmed on the Surfing NSW Event Hotline (0458 247 212) after 6:45am each day of the event.

Limited entry places are still available across some divisions. To enter, contact the Surfing NSW Office on (02) 9349 7055.

The Wahu Surfer Groms Comp is proudly supported by Surfing Australia and Surfing NSW.

Wahu Surfer Groms Comps Schedule:

Event 1

November 14-15 2009

Newcastle, NSW

Event 2

November 21-22 2009

Ocean Grove, Victoria

Event 3

December 5 2009

Glenelg, South Australia

Event 4

December 12-13 2009

Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast, Queensland

Event 5

December 19-20 2009

Northern Beaches, NSW

Event 6

January 12-13 2010

Sunshine Coast, Queensland

Event 7

January 23-24 2010

Trigg Point, Western Australia

Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), 20, reigning ASP Women’s World Champion and current No. 1 on the ASP Women’s World Tour, was relegated to the elimination Round 2 today for the first time all season. The young Australian advanced through to Round 3 this afternoon where she’ll face Oakley Trials winner Tyler Wright (AUS),14.

MANLY BEACH, Australia (Friday, October 10, 2008) – The 2008 Beachley Classic got underway this morning, completing Rounds 1 and 2 as well as the opening two heats of Round 3 at nearby Freshwater Beach in clean two-to-three foot (1 metre) waves.

Stop No. 5 of 8 on the 2008 ASP Women’s World Tour, the Beachley Classic was privy to some dramatic upsets during Round 1, however top seeds prevailed eventually, advancing through to Round 3.

Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), 20, reigning ASP Women’s World Champion and current No. 1 on the 2008 ASP Women’s World Tour, was sent into the elimination Round 2 today at the hands of Rosanne Hodge (ZAF), 21, and Oakley Trials winner Tyler Wright (AUS), 14, this morning, but the champ rebounded in her second heat of the day, taking the win to advance through to Round 3 where she will once again draw the youngster Wright.

“That’s the first time I’ve been in Round 2 all year so that was interesting,” Gilmore said. “I didn’t have a warm-up this morning and I was perhaps a little too cruisey in my Round 1 heat. I was on some new equipment and didn’t get the momentum going that I needed. Stoked to get through Round 2 and I think I’ll be drawing Tyler (Wright) again in Round 3. Should be a good match-up.”

Julia de la Rosa Toro (AUS), 26, current No. 11 on the ASP Women’s World Tour, caused a major upset this afternoon, defeating current ASP World No. 4 Samantha Cornish (AUS), 27, in Round 3 of the Beachley Classic.

“This matches my best result of the season,” De La Rosa Toro said. “I haven’t made the Quarterfinals since the first event of the year so I’m excited to advance through and get a result. The Beachley Classic is a super important event for all of us, given the 20% increase in prize points. I’m sitting outside the bubble at the moment so I need a result here in Sydney.’

Cornish was in blistering form today, netting the event high single-wave score of a 9.80 out of a possible 10 in Round 1 before opening her Round 3 heat with an impressive 7.65. The Australian, however, was unable to stop a rampaging De La Rosa Toro from fighting back with excellent scores of her own.

“I knew Sam (Cornish) would be dangerous on the righthanders because she was surfing them so well in Round 1,” De La Rosa Toro said. “She started out with a really good one, but I was just patient and waited for the waves that offered a little more scoring potential and it paid off.”

De La Rosa Toro will face current ASP Women’s World No. 5 Amee Donohoe (AUS), 27, in Round 4 of the Beachley Classic.

Today’s action occurred today amidst the big announcement that Layne Beachley (AUS), 36, former seven-time ASP Women’s World Champion and current No. 3 on the ASP Women’s World Tour, will retire at the end of the season. The announcement was made via a heavily-attended press conference at the main event site in Manly Beach.

Despite her media obligations, Beachley found time to advance through her Round 1 heat, showcasing the characteristic style and flair that has seen the iconic Australian advance to the top of the surfing world throughout the past two decades.

Beachley will face fellow veteran Melanie Redman-Carr (AUS), 33, in the final Round 3 heat when Beachley Classic action resumes.

Event organizers will reconvene tomorrow morning at 7am at the primary venue at Manly for a possible 7:30am start.

When Beachley Classic competition resumes, Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS), 22, will battle Jacqueline Silva (BRA), 29, in Heat 3 of Round 3.

The Beachley Classic will be webcast LIVE via www.aspworldtour.com and http://www.swellnet.com.au/beachleyclassic08/ 

BEACHLEY CLASSIC Round 1 Results:

Heat 1: Melanie Redman-Carr (AUS) 15.65, Amee Donohoe (AUS) 11.75, Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS) 10.40

Heat 2: Samantha Cornish (AUS) 16.30, Jacqueline Silva (BRA) 10.45, Karina Petroni (USA) 9.20

Heat 3: Rosanne Hodge (ZAF) 12.75, Tyler Wright (AUS) 8.60, Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 8.50

Heat 4: Megan Abubo (HAW) 9.85, Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 9.70, Serena Brooke (AUS) 8.85

Heat 5: Rebecca Woods (AUS) 14.25, Layne Beachley (AUS) 13.30, Nicola Atherton (AUS) 10.25

Heat 6: Silvana Lima (BRA) 12.75, Julia De La Rosa Toro (PER) 10.50, Melanie Bartels (HAW) 1.85

BEACHLEY CLASSIC Round 2 Results:

Heat 1: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 13.50, Karina Petroni (USA) 10.85, Serena Brooke (AUS) 7.35

Heat 2: Melanie Bartels (HAW) 10.00, Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS) 8.50, Nicola Atherton (AUS) 6.00

BEACHLEY CLASSIC Round 3 Results:

Heat 1: Julia De La Rosa Toro (PER) 14.35 def. Samantha Cornish (AUS) 12.90

Heat 2: Amee Donohoe (AUS) 12.15 def. Rosanne Hodge (ZAF) 7.30

REMAINING BEACHLEY CLASSIC Round 3 Match-Ups:

Heat 3: Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS) vs. Jacqueline Silva (BRA)

Heat 4: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) vs. Tyler Wright (AUS)

Heat 5: Sofia Mulanovich (PER) vs. Karina Petroni (AUS)

Heat 6: Melanie Bartels (AUS) vs. Rebecca Woods (AUS)

Heat 7: Silvana Lima (BRA) vs. Megan Abubo (HAW)

Heat 8: Layne Beachley (AUS) vs. Melanie Redman-Carr (AUS)