SIX NEW CHAMPIONS CROWNED AT THE RIP CURL GROMSEARCH NATIONAL FINAL
WOONONA BEACH, ILLAWARRA
Thursday, 17 January, 2019
By Surfing NSW
The 2018 Rip Curl GromSearch National Final pres. by Flight Centre saw an action-packed day of surfing in tricky conditions with six new champions being crowned across three different age divisions.
Finn Cox (Gnarabup, WA) ensured a GromSearch National Final trophy would be making it’s way across the country, taking out the 16 Boys division. Cox remained busy in the heat with northern beaches surfer Jamie Thomson (Narrabeen, NSW) catching a giant 12 waves to Thomson’s two, however, the tactic paid off for the West Australian as he mustered up an impressive 13.27 two-wave heat total to gain the upper hand and take the win.
Finn Cox - photo by Ethan Smith / Surfing NSW
Jamie Thomson - photo by Ethan Smith / Surfing NSW
Molly Picklum (Shelly Beach, NSW) claimed her second title from as many events in 2019, taking out the 16-and-Under Girls. Molly appeared to build on the momentum that allowed her to claim victory in the Hydralyte Pro Junior at Stradbroke Island this past weekend, taking the victory over fellow event standout Carly Shanahan (Wooli, NSW). Picklum employed similar tactics to Cox in the boys division, remaining busy in the final, catching 11 waves and finishing with a respectable 14.06 two-wave heat total.
Molly Picklum - photo by Ethan Smith / Surfing NSW
Carly Shanahan - photo by Ethan Smith / Surfing NSW
Lennix Smith (Barrack Heights, NSW) took the lone local title for the Illawarra surfing contingent, taking out the 14 Boys division. Smith went toe-to-toe with Matt Boyle in the exciting affair but was able to snatch the win by a 1.07 margin.
In an exciting battle between two interstate surfers, Jazz Wylie (Jan Juc, Vic) and Lilliana Bowrey (Tewantin, Qld) managed to find a handful of diamonds in the rough in the 14 Girls division. Both surfers picked the eyes out of the little peaks on offer, however Wylie was able to take the win by a tiny 0.96 margin ahead of Bowrey.
Jazz Wylie - photo by Ethan Smith / Surfing NSW
Lilliana Bowrey - photo by Ethan Smith / Surfing NSW
Chez Bos (Burleigh, Qld) surfed well beyond his years in the 12 Boys division, executing a handful of decent forehand snaps and carves to get the win ahead of Yuma Nagasawa (Japan). With both surfers having notched up scores in the six and seven-point range, Bos was able to get the edge thanks to a higher backup score that allowed him to take the victory over the Japanese surfer by less than half a point.
Chez Bos - photo by Ethan Smith / Surfing NSW
Yuma Nagasawa - photo by Ethan Smith / Surfing NSW
Willow Hardy (Margaret River, WA) showed that she would potentially be a future threat in the years to come, taking out the 12 Girls final. Hardy performed a handful of impressive forehand snaps in the heat to get the victory with a 12.33 two-wave heat total ahead of Quincy Symonds (Tweed Heads, NSW).
Willow Hardy - photo by Ethan Smith / Surfing NSW
The main base for the National Final of the Rip Curl GromSearch presented by Flight Centre was Woonona and Sandon Point with backup locations of Bellambi, Port Kembla, Stanwell Park and Thirroul.
With parallel Rip Curl GromSearch Series in over 10 countries, the series has become a crucial stepping-stone in the development of junior surfers right across the globe.
The list of previous GromSearch winners illustrates the prestigious history of the series, with World Surf League (WSL) competitors Gabriel Medina (Brazil), Tyler Wright (Australia), Owen Wright (Australia), Matt Wilkinson (Australia), Jordy Smith (South Africa), Kolohe Andino (USA) and Sally Fitz gibbons (Australia) among the list of former competitors and Grom Search International Final Champions.
The Australian series is made up of five events as well as a National final. Participants for the National final are determined from the GromSearch ratings, counting a surfers best 2 results across the series. In 2018 the winner of each division in each respective event of the series will be guaranteed entry into the National final, their seed in the National final will be determined by their best 2 results total on the 2018 Rip Curl GromSearch Rankings.
The 2018 Rip Curl Gromsearch is presented by Flight Centre, with managing partner Surfing Australia.
2018 Rip Curl Gromsearch Presented by Flight Centre Series Schedule:
EVENT 1 - Jan Juc, VIC - Sept 22 - 24, 2018
EVENT 2 - Newcastle, NSW - Sept 29 - Oct 2, 2018
EVENT 3 - Trigg / Scarborough, WA - Oct 5 - 7, 2018
EVENT 4 - Yorke Peninsula, SA - Oct 27 - 28, 2018
EVENT 5 - Sunshine Coast, QLD - Dec 14 - 18, 2018
NATIONAL FINAL – Wollongong Region, NSW - January 14 – 16, 2019
RESULTS:
16-and-Under Boys
1 – Finn Cox (Gnarabup, WA)
2 – Jamie Thomson (Narrabeen, NSW)
16-and-Under Girls
1 – Molly Picklum (Shelly Beach, NSW)
2 – Carly Shanahan (Wooli, NSW)
14-and-Under Boys
1 – Lennix Smith (Barrack Point, NSW)
2 – Matt Boyle (Palm Beach, Qld)
14-and-Under Girls
1 – Jazz Wylie (Jan Juc, Vic)
2 – Liliana Bowery (Tewantin, Qld)
12-and-Under Boys
1 – Chez Bos (Burleigh, Qld)
2 – Yuma Nagasawa (Japan)
12-and-Under Girls
1 – Willow Hardy (Margaret River, WA)
2 – Quincy Symonds (Tweed Heads, NSW)
Molly Picklum - photo by Ethan Smith / Surfing NSW
RIP CURL GROMSEARCH NATIONAL FINAL HEATS UP AHEAD OF FINALS TOMORROW
WOONOONA BEACH, ILLAWARRA
Wednesday, 16 January 2019
By Surfing NSW
The Rip Curl GromSearch presented by Flight Centre National Final shifted south to Woonoona for the second day of competition today as some of Australia’s best and most promising grommets fought to earn a spot into tomorrow’s finals.
After fighting his way through the requalification rounds, Jamie Thomson (Narrabeen, NSW) proceeded to dominate his quarterfinal exchange, nailing a massive 15.94 two-wave heat total. Thomson threw down a handful of impressive forehand snaps and carves to notch up the aforementioned score and cement himself a position into the 16 Boys semi-finals where he’ll meet Indi White (Jan Juc, Vic).
Jamie Thomson - photo by Ethan Smith / Surfing NSW
Carly Shanahan (Wooli, NSW) and Molly Picklum (Shelly Beach, NSW) both kept their momentum snowballing through the quarterfinals today with both surfers posting heat totals in the 12-point range. Both surfers nailed an eclectic mix of snaps and carves in their respective exchanges to ensure they would make the final day of competition.
Carly Shanahan - photo by Ethan Smith / Surfing NSW
Molly Picklum - photo by Ethan Smith / Surfing NSW
Lennix Smith (Barrack Point, NSW) flew the flag loud and proud for the local surfing contingent, nailing a solid 14.53 two-wave heat total in a stacked 14 Boys quarterfinal. Smith seamlessly linked together a chain of impressive backside snaps and carves in the heat to get the win ahead of Touma Cameron (Byron Bay, NSW), Marlon Harrison (Coolangatta, Qld) and Dembe Ryan (Lennox Head, NSW) who claimed second, third and fourth respectively.
Arabella Wilson - photo by Ethan Smith / Surfing NSW
Fletcher Kelleher - photo by Ethan Smith / Surfing NSW
Indi White - photo by Ethan Smith / Surfing NSW
Fin McLaren - photo by Ethan Smith / Surfing NSW
RIP CURL GROMSEARCH NATIONAL FINAL GETS OFF TO A FLYING START AT STANWELL PARK
STANWELL PARK, ILLAWARRA
Tuesday, 15 January 2019
By Surfing NSW
The opening day of the Rip Curl GromSearch presented by Flight Centre National Final saw some of Australia’s most talented young surfers shining in difficult conditions at Sandon Point as the event tore through the opening rounds.
Perennial GromSearch standout George Pittar (Manly, NSW) put on a fluent display of power surfing early in the day, posting a decent 14.34 two-wave heat total in his opening 16-and-Under Boys heat. Pittar executed an array of impressive forehand snaps to post the aforementioned score and book his spot straight into the quarterfinals.
George Pittar - photo by Ethan Smith / Surfing NSW
Fresh off a Pro Junior win at Stradbroke Island last weekend, Molly Picklum (Shelly Beach, NSW) continued to build on her current momentum in her opening 16-and-Under Girls heat, posting a giant 16.87 two-wave heat total. Picklum performed well beyond her years in the opening exchange, performing a handful of giant forehand carves and snaps. As a result, Molly will make her next appearance in the quarterfinals.
Molly Picklum - photo by Ethan Smith / Surfing NSW
Illawarra native Lennix Smith (Barrack Point, NSW) showed his knowledge of Wollongong beach breaks taking an impressive win in his first 14-and-Under Boys heat. Smith put on a healthy display of technical turns and carves in the heat to post a 15.06 two-wave total and get the win ahead of constant event standout Marlon Harrison (Coolangatta, Qld).
Lennix Smith - photo by Ethan Smith / Surfing NSW
After finishing in the runner-up position at last year’s Rip Curl GromSearch presented by Flight Centre National Final, Cedar Leigh-Jones (Avalon, NSW) made her intentions clear that she was out for victory in her opening 14-and-Under Girls heat. Leigh-Jones synced her powerful forehand repertoire with the right-handers on offer in the first round, posting a respectable 12.43 two-wave total.
The main base for the National Final of the Rip Curl GromSearch presented by Flight Centre is Woonoona and Sandon Point with backup locations of Bellambi, Port Kembla, Stanwell Park and Thirroul.
With parallel Rip Curl GromSearch Series in over 10 countries, the series has become a crucial stepping-stone in the development of junior surfers right across the globe.
The list of previous GromSearch winners illustrates the prestigious history of the series, with World Surf League (WSL) competitors Gabriel Medina (Brazil), Tyler Wright (Australia), Owen Wright (Australia), Matt Wilkinson (Australia), Jordy Smith (South Africa), Kolohe Andino (USA) and Sally Fitz gibbons (Australia) among the list of former competitors and Grom Search International Final Champions.
The Australian series is made up of five events as well as a National final. Participants for the National final are determined from the GromSearch ratings, counting a surfers best 2 results across the series. In 2018 the winner of each division in each respective event of the series will be guaranteed entry into the National final, their seed in the National final will be determined by their best 2 results total on the 2018 Rip Curl GromSearch Rankings.
The 2018 Rip Curl Gromsearch is presented by Flight Centre, with managing partner Surfing Australia.
Carly Shanahan, photo by Ethan Smith / Surfing NSW
Winter Vincent photo by Ethan Smith / Surfing NSW
2018 Rip Curl Gromsearch Presented by Flight Centre Series Schedule:
EVENT 1 - Jan Juc, VIC - Sept 22 - 24, 2018
EVENT 2 - Newcastle, NSW - Sept 29 - Oct 2, 2018
EVENT 3 - Trigg / Scarborough, WA - Oct 5 - 7, 2018
EVENT 4 - Yorke Peninsula, SA - Oct 27 - 28, 2018
EVENT 5 - Sunshine Coast, QLD - Dec 14 - 18, 2018
NATIONAL FINAL – Wollongong Region, NSW - January 14 – 16, 2019
