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Event three South Island Grom Series |
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Written by Lewis Joyce
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Thursday, 21 February 2013 |
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| Max Marshall - Image Bianca Carlsen |
After two events with groms and parents travelling to Westport, Gore Bay and arriving at the final stop of the grom series in Kaikoura a beautiful scenic location with a variety of point, reef and rocky beach breaks this would be the ultimate test of the endurance and nerves of all the competitors and the on looking parents alike.
With all competitors chasing those crucial event points it was sure they would
be putting everything on the line including their boards and bodies.
We were greeted with consistent and clean 1.0 – 1.5 metre waves. With all divisions being competed it was to
be the longest event of the series.
First out were the Under 17 Boys enjoying the consistent conditions and again
it was Harrison Whiteside relishing in the conditions with a first round heat
score of 14.63. Jack Wilson also took
advantage of the good conditions to progress to the semi-finals with Harrison.
Max Marshall showed a cool head with his smooth powerful style to eclipse the
opposition in his heat to progress along with second placed Sam Sands.
It was series second seed Nick Tuhikarama giving his heat rivals notice early
on, with two good scoring rides and a total heat score of 11.16 but, it was a
young Connor McLennan who punched well above his weight to progress along with
Nick to the Semi’s.
In Semi –final one Harrison’s experience and refined surfing repertoire were
expressed with some solid scores being locked in on his way to grabbing this
event’s crown. Sam Sands and New comer
to this end of the draw Connor McLennan did battle for the other finals
spot. Sam Sands couldn’t seem to find
his normal rhythm and suffered at the hands of an in form Connor McLennan.
Semi-final two was a different ball game all surfers were on their game with
only a three point spread between first and third. Again Max Marshall found some productive
peaks, linking some nice combinations and earning first spot in the final. Some nice powerful fluent turns from Nick
Tuhikarama edged an improved and eager Jack Wilson out of that second finals
berth.
This final was an energy charged affair with Max Marshall chalking up two good
scores from the get go. Harrison Whiteside struggled to find a confidence
booster early on to get that usual rhythm humming. Nick Tuhikarama rode a couple of keepers
early on and was in touch needing only to improve on his backup wave to be in
contention. It was new comer to the U17 finals arena Connor McLennan who left
his run until the last five minutes to get his keepers but, it was Max Marshall
who kept hold of the lead leaving Harrison Whiteside to be in unfamiliar
territory taking the second place with Nick Tuhikarma and Connor McLennan to
third and Fourth respectively.
The Under 17 Girls final had three new competition competitors taking on not
only each other but, the unforgiving intimidating rocky beach break of Meatworks. All the girls committed to the waves showing
maturity in the conditions. It was newcomer Georgie Jackson who charged
anything and everything making some late drops leaving the spectators in awe
and getting rewarded by the judges to get her first event win. Liberty Bradshaw also new to competition and
ominous submerged rocks also committed to the conditions taking second place
off Isabelle Woollaston whom also navigated the tricky obstacles to just fall
short and take third place.
In the Under 14 Boys we had a full draw of competent surfers chasing that
podium finish.
Sam Sands, Zac Van Eekelen, Connor McLennan and Liam Wright pushed themselves
well throughout the heats and all taking advantage of the good conditions to
maximise their individual tallies and progress
through to the finals.
New comers to the series Ben Graham, Broc O’Connor, Flynn Marshall and Thomas
Weston all surfed well in throughout only missing out by not having another
good backup score so, next year’s series is looking to keep all the top seed
boy’s on top of their games.
Consistent surfing from Jake Jayes and New Comer Ben Graham saw them into the
semi-finals but again they both just fell short of securing a finals berth.
The final ended up being the Liam Wright show!
out scoring his fellow finalists with a 5 point spread his committed
surfing a powerful turns left all the others chasing second place but, getting
that second spot didn’t come easy for any of them as there was only a .80
spread between second and fourth place. Sam Sands just scratched through into
second with Zak Van Eekelen and Under 17 Finalist Connor McLennan in third and
fourth respectively.
With the Under 14 girls it was the experienced Georgia Wederell and Siobhan
Jayes keeping cool heads in their respective heats to grab a finals berth but,
it was the new comer Liberty Bradshaw that showed the series leaders that she
could foot it with the best of them getting the highest heat score in the
semi-finals. Tegen Bishop kept her cool
and also found that last finals spot.
With the Semi-finals out of their minds they refocused for the finals being a
new experience for some of these girls finding out that the rocks are not
forgiving and I am sure this adds another dimension to competition surfing
called “survival”!
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| Siohban Jayes - Image Bianca Carlsen |
In form and taking control of this final was none other than Siobhan Jayes a
thorn in the side of her fellow competitors with two good scores under her belt
and a good wave count there was no looking back. New comer Liberty Bradshaw managed the
sizeable conditions well and picked off her quota to secure second place.
Georgia Wederell had a good score but needed a backup wave to take it but
couldn’t get the one needed finishing third.
Tegen Bishop did well with the size but, was carrying a few bumps and
bruises courtesy of the unforgiving ocean terrain.
In the Under 12 Boys final we had a new comer in the form of Reuben Lyons at
the ripe old age of 8 years. As a local
he coped well in the conditions just like you do in your own back yard! He
probably doesn’t know what a sand bottomed break is!
The two old rivals went head to head again and since Westport the battle
between Zak Van Eekelen and Jake Jayes gets better and better those bragging
rights were up for grabs again.
It was Zak who held the lead early on but, it was Jake who charged home strong
with the wave of the final to upset Zak from getting three from three. Cameron Wright, Luca Winkelman and Reuben
Lyons didn’t get the pick of the waves and had to settle for third, fourth and
fifth respectively.
A well surfed final by all these young groms who have shown more commitment
than surfers twice their age well done groms!
The Under 12 Girls final was a battle these girls showed admirable commitment
just to paddle out but gentle persuasion and reassurance by all got all the
girls out the back.
Again it was the super grom Siobhain Jayes that dominated the final not only
getting some good scoring waves but, linking some smooth fluid turns requiring
all the others needing combinations for
the win. Tegen Bishop and Georgia
Wederell surfed well but just could not catch the on form Jayes.
Tegen finished second and Georgia Third.
This event brought all the junior competitors to a new break and I know they
have learnt that they will always come in second place if they don’t respect Mother
Nature.
We have had 13 new girl grom entries and 9 new grom boy entries this year so,
this will ensure next year’s series will be bigger and better than ever with
potentially full draws throughout.
This series couldn’t have been possible without the support of many volunteers
so, a special thanks to Steve Sands, Russell Ritchie for judging at all events
and thanks to the SISA and Surfing NZ crew.
Also, a big thanks to Exit Surf for entry packs and prizes.
Under 17 Boys
1st Max Marshall
2nd Harrison Whiteside
3rd Nick Tuhikarama
4th Connor McLennan
Under 17 Girls
1st Georgie Jackson
2nd Liberty Bradshaw
3rd Isabelle Woollaston
Under 14 Boys
1st Liam Wright
2nd Samuel Sands
3rd Zac Van Eekelen
4th Connor McLennan
Under 14 Girls
1st Siobhan Jayes
2nd Liberty Bradshaw
3rd Georgia Wederell
4th Tegen Bishop
Under 12 Boys
1st Jake Jayes
2nd Zac Van Eekelen
3rd Cameron Wright
4th Luca Winkelman
5th Reuben Lyons
Under 12 Girls
1st Siobhan Jayes
2nd Tegen Bishop
3rd Georgia Wederell
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SOL SURF SERIES |
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NZ Pro Series |
1. Maz Quinn (Gis)
2. Sean Peggs (Tai)
3. JC Susan (Mnt)
4. Zen Wallis (Piha)
5. Dune Kennings (WGM)
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1, Daniel
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2, Ant
McColl (Mnt)
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Wallis (Piha)
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Kibblewhite (Auck)
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Morris (Auck)
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| 2013 Hyundai Tour Ratings |
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GROMMET SERIES |
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Under 16 Boys
1. Kehu Butler (Mnt)
2. Taylor Hutchison (Rag)
3. Isaac Kettle (Tara)
4. Callum Chuter (Mnt)
5. RagHarrison Whiteside (Chch)
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Under 16 Girls
1. Claudia Fraser (Piha)
2. Kea Smith (Mnt)
3. Britt Kindred (Muri)
4. Dayna Story (Gis)
5. Jasmine Smith (Gis) |
| 2013 NZ Grom Ratings |
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