COMPETITORS MAKE LIGHT WORK OF SMALL CONDITIONS AT THE 2017 SKULLCANDY OZ GROM OPEN PRES. BY VISSLA
LENNOX HEAD
Sunday, 9 July 2017
Competitors endured a small and tricky swell today as the 2017 Skullcandy Oz Grom Open presented by Vissla moved through its third day of competition.
Coached by Lennox Head local and former Qualifying Series competitor James Wood, Japanese surfer Hiroto Mori (Japan) made light work of the small beachbreak peaks nailing section-after-section on his forehand to claim a win in the second round of the 12-and-Under Boys. Mori posted two excellent scores in excess of 9.00 points to accrue an 18.6 two-wave heat total, the second highest heat total of the event so far.
Searching for a decent result to claw his way out of the repechage round, Zack McMahon (Evans Head) went berserk on the small peaks, nailing a variety of vertical manoeuvres. As a result, McMahon was rewarded with the third highest heat total of the event so far, 18.5 out of a possible 20 points.
Using a change of approach, 16-and-Under Boys competitor George Pittar (Manly) opted to rely on a seldom-contested righthander to the south of the main contest structure in his round three heat. Pittar took full advantage of the space he had between his fellow competitors, performing a wide variety of frontside snaps and carves to notch up a 15.66 heat total and seal himself a position into the fourth round.
The 2017 Skullcandy Oz Grom Open presented by Vissla will continue tomorrow morning with the 16 Girls Repechage heats hitting the water first, followed by the repechage heats for the 14 Girls.
Hiroto Mori (Japan) - Photo by Ethan Smith / Surfing NSW
Zack McMahon (Evans Head) - Photo by Ethan Smith / Surfing NSW
George Pittar (Manly) - Photo by Ethan Smith / Surfing NSW
THE 2017 SKULLCANDY OZ GROM OPEN PRES. BY VISSLA INTENSIFIES ON DAY FOUR OF COMPETITION
LENNOX HEAD
Monday, 10 July 2017
Competitors fought tooth and nail to remain in the draw of the 2017 Skullcandy Oz Grom Open presented by Vissla as competition intensified on day four of the prestigious event.
Grayson Hinrichs (Bondi, NSW), Ryley Smidt (Corindi Beach, NSW), Kyllian Guerin (France) and Lennox Chell (Avoca, NSW) all made their mark on the third round of the 14-and-Under Boys division with all four surfers dominating the small conditions to post two-wave heat totals in excess of 14.00 (out of a possible 20 points). As a result, all four surfers have cemented their position into the fourth round of the event where the competition will narrow to three-man heats.
Ty Richardson (Palm Beach, Qld) continued to build on the highlight reel performance he displayed in earlier rounds, flying across flat sections with style and flow. Richardson laid down excellent 8.7 and 8.3 wave scores to claim the third round victory and earn a position into the quarterfinals where he’ll face off with fellow Queenslander Ashton Pignat (Coolum, Qld), local Harry O’Brien (Lennox Head, NSW) and Japanese powerhouse Hiroto Mori (Japan).
Zahli Kelly (Clayfield, Qld) dominated the third round of the 16-and-Under Girls division, surfing well beyond her years to post a 15.50 two-wave heat total. After taking out the 2017 World Surf League Australasian Junior Qualifying Series and the recent Occy Grom Comp, Kelly is looking strong going into her quarterfinal which will be contested tomorrow afternoon.
The 2017 Skullcandy Oz Grom Open presented by Vissla will continue tomorrow morning with the fourth round of the 16 Boys hitting the water first.
Zahli Kelly (Clayfield, Qld) - Photo by Ethan Smith / Surfing NSW
Grayson Hinrichs (Bondi, NSW) - Photo by Ethan Smith / Surfing NSW
Ryley Smidt (Corindi Beach, NSW) - Photo by Ethan Smith / Surfing NSW
Kyllian Guerin (France) - Photo by Ethan Smith / Surfing NSW
Lennox Chell (Avoca, NSW) - Photo by Ethan Smith / Surfing NSW
2017 SKULLCANDY OZ GROM OPEN PRES. BY VISSLA HEATS UP AHEAD OF TOMORROW'S FINALS
LENNOX HEAD
Tuesday, 11 July 2017
Day five of the 2017 Skullcandy Oz Grom Open presented by Vissla edged closer to the pointy end of competition today as competitors battled it out in challenging one-foot waves, in an attempt to earn a position into the final day of competition.
Winter Vincent (Manly, NSW), Ty Richardson (Palm Beach, Qld) Hiroto Mori (Japan) and Rasmus King (Byron Bay, NSW) all cemented their position into the 12-and-Under Boys final, as a result of taking the top spots in their respective semi-finals. All surfers will face off against one another when the event resumes tomorrow.
Jarvis Earle (Cronulla, NSW) used his pint-sized frame to positive effect in the 14-and-Under Boys division performing a variety of mammoth hooks. Earle’s repertoire of turns led the Cronulla goofy-footer to claim victory in his round four and quarterfinal duals and booked his ticket into the semi-finals where he’ll meet Ethan Huxtable (Jan Juc, Vic) and Takumi Yasumbia (Japan). Josh Grange (Burleigh, Qld), Ryley Smidt (Corindi, NSW) and Lennox Chell (Avoca, NSW) will form the opposing 14 Boys semi-final.
Saffi Veete (NZL), Molly Picklum (Shelly Beach, NSW) and Holly Williams (Buddina, Qld) were all victorious in their respective 16-and-Under Girls quarterfinals and earned themselves a spot in the semi-finals which will take place tomorrow.
Victorian powerhouse Xavier Huxtable (Jan Juc, Vic) continued to keep his Skullcandy Oz Grom Open campaign rolling through the fourth round of the 16-and-Under Boys competition, posting a giant 17.50 two-wave heat total (out of a possible 20 points). Huxtable was not hindered by the small conditions as he executed a barrage of giant turns to lock in a position in tomorrow's quarterfinals.
The 2017 Skullcandy Oz Grom Open presented by Vissla will continue tomorrow morning with the quarterfinals of the 16 Boys hitting the water first.
Winter Vincent (Manly, NSW) - Photo by Ethan Smith / Surfing NSW
Rasmus King (Byron Bay, NSW) - Photo by Ethan Smith / Surfing NSW
Xavier Huxtable (Jan Juc, Vic) - Photo by Ethan Smith / Surfing NSW
CHAMPIONS CROWNED AT THE 2017 SKULLCANDY OZ GROM OPEN PRES. BY VISSLA AT LENNOX HEAD
LENNOX HEAD
Wednesday, 12 July 2017
Five new champions have been crowned today at the 2017 Skullcandy Oz Grom Open presented by Vissla, following a series of exciting heats in punchy one-foot shorebreaks.
Being too old for the 16-and-Under Boys division at next year’s Skullcandy Oz Grom Open presented by Vissla, local competitor Mikey McDonagh (Lennox Head, NSW) surfed excellently to claim victory in the division. Having competed in the event for the better part of a decade, and having taken several titles, McDonagh finished his charge through the event with a bang, posting an impressive 15.27 two-wave heat total (out of a possible 20 points) to take the title ahead of fellow North Coast surfer Jayke Mellows (Cabarita, NSW) who claimed the runner-up spot.
Event standout Zahli Kelly (Clayfield, Qld) continued her successful charge through the competition taking out the 16-and-Under Girls division. Kelly performed an eclectic mix of turns in the heat to claim her third Skullcandy Oz Grom Open presented by Vissla title in as many years. Kelly posted a respectable 13.17 heat total to claim victory in the heat.
The 14-and-Under Boys saw one of the most exciting exchanges of the event, with all four surfers posting a handful of good-to-excellent scores. However, a last minute exchange between event standouts Jarvis Earle (Cronulla, NSW) and Lennox Chell (Avoca, NSW) landed in Earle’s favour as he took the heat with a 15.64 two-wave heat total.
Sai Maniwa (Japan) became the lone international competitor to take a title, claiming the 14-and-Under Girls final. The Japanese competitor came up against an in-form Nyxie Ryan (Lennox Head, NSW) in the heat, however, Maniwa managed to get the upper hand thanks to 7.1 and a 6.9 wave scores, which gave her an accumulative 14.00 heat total.
Ty Richardson (Palm Beach, Qld) put on one of the most exciting displays of surfing in the finals to take out the 12-and-Under Boys division. Richardson surfed like a seasoned professional in the final - posting an 18.17 heat total - to leave his fellow competitors chasing two-wave combinations of scores to knock him from the top spot. Northern Beaches competitor Winter Vincent (Manly, NSW) put up a valiant fight but was unable to find the two necessary scores required to knock Richardson down from the first position.
The premier six-day event ran from July 7 – July 12th 2017 and crown champions across 12, 14 and 16 age divisions.
In a similar vein to preceding years - where the event has attracted surfers from ten different countries - a full international field competed in 2017 with surfers coming from as far away as Europe, USA and Japan to make up a field of more than 170 surfers.
All event divisions were be broadcast live from last Saturday morning on skullcandyozgromopen.com.au.
The Skullcandy Oz Grom Open presented by Vissla is proudly supported by Skullcandy, Vissla, Ballina Shire Council, Le-Ba Boardriders and Surfing NSW.
RESULTS:
16-and-Under Boys
1 – Mikey McDonagh (Lennox Head, NSW)
2 – Jayke Mellows (Cabarita, NSW)
3 – Jagger Batholomew (Coolangatta, Qld)
4 – Finn McLaren (Austinmer, NSW)
16-and-Under Boys Finalists - photo by Ethan Smith/ Surfing NSW
16-and-Under Girls
1 – Zahli Kelly (Clayfield, Qld)
2 – Saffi Veete (NZL)
3 – Anne Dos Santos (Dee Why, NSW)
4 – Holly Williams (Buddina, Qld)
16-and-Under Girls Finalists - photo by Ethan Smith/ Surfing NSW
14-and-Under Boys
1 – Jarvis Earle (Cronulla, NSW)
2 – Lennox Chell (Avoca, NSW)
3 – Ryley Smidt (Corindi, NSW)
4 – Ethan Huxtable (Jan Juc, Vic)
14-and-Under Boys Finalists - photo by Ethan Smith/ Surfing NSW
14-and-Under Girls
1 – Sai Maniwa (Japan)
2 – Nyxie Ryan (Lennox Head, NSW)
3 – Coral Durant (Carnarvon, WA)
4 – Charli Hurst (Port Kembla, NSW)
14-and-Under Girls Finalists - photo by Ethan Smith/ Surfing NSW
12-and-Under Boys
1 – Ty Richardson (Palm Beach, Qld)
2 – Winter Vincent (Manly, NSW)
3 – Rasmus King (Byron Bay, NSW)
4 – Hiroto Mori (Japan)
12-and-Under Boys Finalists - photo by Ethan Smith/ Surfing NSW
