October 11 - 17, 2020: Issue 469

 

local surfers shine in Rip Curl GromSearch at Newcastle 2020

Cedar Leigh-Jones, Avalon, won 1st place in the Girls 16's Division - Photo Josh Brown / Surfing NSW 

Milla Brown, Bilgola, secured 2nd in Girls 14's division - Photo Josh Brown / Surfing NSW

Champions crowned after exciting finals day at Rip Curl GromSearch at Newcastle

NEWCASTLE BEACH, NEWCASTLE 
Sunday 4 October, 2020
Report by Surfing NSW

The Rip Curl GromSearch saw six new champions crowned today following a day of exciting surfing and challenging conditions at Newcastle Beach. 

2020 Havaianas NSW Grommet Champion Ben Zanatta Creagh (Dee Why) showed why he was reigning state champion, taking out the 12 Boys division. Zanatta Creagh nailed an array of flawless turns and carves over the duration of the final to take the victory by a meagre 0.4 margin ahead of Cronulla’s Kash Brown. 


Ben Zanatta Creagh - Photo Josh Brown / Surfing NSW 

Quincy Symonds (Tweed Heads) ensured a title would head north, taking out the 12 Girls division. Symonds posted a decent 11.70 two-wave total to gain the narrow edge over fellow junior dynamo Ocea Curtis (Lennox Head). 

Perennial junior event standout Fletcher Kelleher (Freshwater) added another accomplishment to his portfolio of results, taking out the 14 Boys division. Kelleher put on a solid performance over the course of the final, posting a decent 12.30 two-wave total for a series of impressive turns. 


Fletcher Kelleher - Photo Josh Brown / Surfing NSW 

Zahlia Short (Austinmer) claimed a title for the Illawarra region taking top honours in the 14 Girls division. Short executed a handful of powerful snaps and carves to take the win with a respectable 12.56 two-wave heat total. Bilgola's Milla Brown also put in some strong surfing, securing 2nd position in the Girls 14's.

Cedar Leigh-Jones (Avalon) continued to build on the momentum she showed yesterday taking out the 16 Girls division. Leigh-Jones posted a mammoth 15.07 two-wave heat total to get the win ahead of reigning NSW champion Rosie Smart (Sawtell). 

Taj Simon (Port Kembla) joined Zahlia short in the Illawarra winners circle, taking out the 16 Boys division. The talented natural footer blitzed the wave-starved final, posting a giant 15.00 total for an array of decent backside snaps. 


Taj Simon  - Photo Josh Brown / Surfing NSW  

All results can be seen below. 

Instead of trophies, Rip Curl GromSearch provided finalists with a certificate of donation to Bush Heritage Australia. 

In an uncertain year, organisers have deemed the easiest way for families to plan ahead is to allow entry for each event to be available for state residents only. This alleviates the uncertain issues regarding interstate travel, whilst still providing an opportunity for participants to surf against others from their state. 

Each event will be run in conjunction with the state surfing associations and adhere to all appropriate health and safety regulations. In accordance with Victorian regulations, the Victorian event has been moved to November 14-15 at Jan Juc Beach, better aligning with regional restrictions to allow surfers to attend. 

The 2020 series will culminate with a GromSearch National final at URBNSURF Melbourne in March 2021. Finalists will be determined from the top-ranked surfers out of each of the three events in the series (in their respective divisions). GromSearch organisers will be working with surfing associations from states where events cannot be held, to try and incorporate surfers from each of those states. 

More information on individual events, entry dates and procedure, allocations for National Final and any other updates to follow. 

UPDATED 2020 Rip Curl GromSearch Series dates:

*all dates and locations to be confirmed, pending Covid-19 restrictions and regulations.

  • Event 1 - Newcastle, NSW - Oct 1-4, 2020
  • NEW DATE Event 2 – Jan Juc, VIC – Nov 14-15, 2020.
  • EVENT 3 – Coolum, Qld - Dec 14-16, 2020
  • National Final – URBNSURF, Vic. March, 2021 

Divisions:

  • 16 and Under Girls, 14 and Under Girls, 12 and Under Girls
  • 16 and Under Boys, 14 and Under Boys, 12 and Under Boys. 

The GromSearch series provides the opportunity for groms to surf with their friends whilst developing their competitive skills. As participants progress through to the finals they gain valuable experience competing against elite level talent. 

The impressive list of previous GromSearch competitors that are currently on the WSL world tour is testament to the quality of the series. 

Current WSL World Tour athletes that were GromSearch finalists include:

Tyler Wright*, Steph Gilmore*, Carissa Moore*, Sally Fitzgibbons, Malia Manuel, Nikki Van Dijk, Tatiana Weston-Webb, Bronte McCaulay, Caroline Marks, Macy Callaghan, Brisa Hennessy, Isabella Nichols & Bethany Hamilton. (*Note: GromSearch competitors have won the last 13 WSL Women’s World Titles). 

Current Men's WSL World Tour athletes that were GromSearch finalists include:

Gabriel Medina*, Owen Wright, Italo Ferreira*, Jordy Smith*, Kolohe Andino*, Filipe Toledo*, Kanoa Igarashi*, Wade Carmichael, Ryan Callinan, Leonardo Fioravanti, Connor O’Leary, Seth Moniz, Griffin Colapinto & Morgan Cibilic. 

(*Note: the top 6 surfers of the final 2019 WSL World Tour rankings are all former GromSearch finalists).

Results 

12 and Under Girls
1st Quincy Symonds (Tweed Heads)
2nd Ocea Curtis (Lennox Head)
3rd Ruby Trew (Manly)
4th Ava Arghyros (Kingscliff)

 

Photo Josh Brown / Surfing NSW 

12 and Under Boys
1st Ben Zanatta Creagh (Manly)
2nd Kash Brown (Cronulla)
3rd Ocean Lancaster (Newcastle)
4th Max Mcgillivray (Evans Head)

 

Photo Josh Brown / Surfing NSW 

14 and Under Girls
1st Zahlia Short (Austinmer)
2nd Milla Brown (Bilgola)
3rd Shyla Short (Austinmer)
4th Natalie Fenson (Newcastle)

 

Photo Josh Brown / Surfing NSW 

14 and Under Boys
1st Fletcher Kelleher (Manly)
2nd Eden Hason (Boat Harbour)
3rd Harry O'Brien (Lennox Head)
4th Baxter Hurt (Collaroy)

 

Photo Josh Brown / Surfing NSW 

16 and Under Girls
1st Cedar Leigh-Jones (Avalon)
2nd Rosie Smart (Sawtell)
3rd Milli Allport (North Shelly)
4th Bonnie Hills (Mullaway)

 

Photo Josh Brown / Surfing NSW 

16 and Under Boys
1st Taj Simon (Port Kembla)
2nd Lennix Smith (Barrack Point)
3rd Winter Vincent (Queenscliff)
4th Koda Killorn (Maroubra)


Photo Josh Brown / Surfing NSW 

Rip Curl GromSearch at Newcastle heats up ahead of finals day

BAR BEACH, NEWCASTLE 
Saturday 3 October 2020

The Rip Curl GromSearch series heated up ahead of tomorrow’s finals with a handful of exciting exchanges in two-foot surf at Bar Beach. 

Kash Brown (Cronulla), Ben Zanatta Creagh (Dee Why), and Max Mcgillivray (Evans Head) all made their presence felt in the 12 Boys division. All three surfers - who have recently notched up solid results in NSW title events – posted two-wave heat totals in excess of 15.00 to claim victories in the round two heats and earn their spot into the finals day of competition. 

Under-12 Girls top-seeds Ocea Curtis (Lennox Head), Quincy Symonds (Tweed Heads) and Ruby Trew (Manly) all showed why they donned the top seed red rashies all posting giant two-wave totals in excess of 15.00 to claim round two heat wins and earn themselves spots into the semi-finals. 

Rosie Smart (Sawtell) and Cedar Leigh-Jones (Avalon) put on a clinic over the course of the 16 Girls semis posting 15.93 and 17.50 heat totals respectively. Both girls executed an array of critical snaps and carves to post the aforementioned scores and cement themselves a spot into the final. 

Koda Killorn (Maroubra), Lennix Smith (Barrack Heights), Winter Vincent (Manly) and Taj Simon (Port Kembla) continued their rampage through the 16 Boys, all posting impressive scores. All surfers will face off with their respective semi-finalists tomorrow on finals day.

Giant scores continue on day two of the Rip Curl GromSearch

MEREWETHER BEACH, NEWCASTLE 
Friday 2 October 2020

The Rip Curl GromSearch series tore through day two of action today with competitors being graced with picturesque three-foot surf at Merewether Beach.   

Following a similar trajectory to yesterday, Koda Killorn (Maroubra), Winter Vincent (Manly) and Lennix Smith (Barrack Point) all shone in their 16 Boys heats with all three surfers notching up two-wave heat totals in excess of 15.00 points. As a result of their respective victories, all three surfers have sealed their positions into the third round. 

Leila Salt (Boomerang Beach), Milla Brown (Bilgola), Zahlia Short (Austinmer), Natalie Fenson (Newcastle) and Amelie Lowrie (Shelly Beach) all claimed victories in their opening 14 Girls heat. All three surfers with make their next appearance in the second round. 

Nate Hopkins (Noraville) continued to build on his highlight-reel performance from yesterday, taking an impressive victory in the second round of the 14 Boys. Hopkins put on a display of mammoth backside snaps to post a solid 13.33 two-wave heat total and earn a spot into the quarterfinals.

Goofy-footers shine on the opening day of Rip Curl GromSearch at Merewether

MEREWETHER BEACH, NEWCASTLE 
Thursday 1 October 2020 

The world-renowned Rip Curl GromSearch series got off to a flying start today with competitors going toe-to-toe in beautiful four-foot surf at Merewether Beach. 

Reigning NSW Junior Champion Rosie Smart (Sawtell) showed she hadn’t lost any momentum since winning the junior state titles earlier this year, dominating her opening Under-16 Girls exchange. The talented goofy-footer performed an eclectic mix of snaps and carves to post a solid 13.34 two-wave heat total and earn her spot into the quarterfinals. 

Koda Killorn (Maroubra), Lennix Smith (Barrack Point) and Zac Tinson (Merewether) all made light work of their opening 16 Boys heats, with all surfers posting heat totals in excess of 12.00. All three surfers surfed well beyond their years in their respective heats to earn themselves a spot into the second round. 

Nate Hopkins (Noraville) notched up another highlight-reel performance for the goofy-footers nailing his first-round heat in the 14 Boys division. The Central Coast surfer shone in the overhead conditions, nailing an array of technical backside snaps and carves to finish the heat with a giant 17.83 two-wave heat total. 

The main base for the National Final of the Rip Curl GromSearch is Merewether with backup locations of Bar Beach, Dixon Park and Newcastle Beach. 

In an uncertain year, organisers have deemed the easiest way for families to plan ahead is to allow entry for each event to be available for state residents only. This alleviates the uncertain issues regarding interstate travel, whilst still providing an opportunity for participants to surf against others from their state. 

Each event will be run in conjunction with the state surfing associations and adhere to all appropriate health and safety regulations. In accordance with Victorian regulations, the Victorian event has been moved to November 14-15 at Jan Juc Beach, better aligning with regional restrictions to allow surfers to attend. 

The 2020 series will culminate with a GromSearch National final at URBNSURF Melbourne in March 2021. Finalists will be determined from the top-ranked surfers out of each of the three events in the series (in their respective divisions). GromSearch organisers will be working with surfing associations from states where events cannot be held, to try and incorporate surfers from each of those states.