GREAT surfing and breakout performances from some of Australia’s best junior surfers highlighted the final day of the Rip Curl GromSearch, including local Creed McTaggart who successfully defended his title.
Event number three of a seven event national series took place in Mandurah on the weekend, with sunny skies and offshore winds making for one of the most memorable GromSearch’s in recent history.
Pyramids beach once again provided the ideal location, with an overnight increase in swell combined with clean offshore winds, the excitement levels where high as the bumper field of over 80 entries was slowly narrowed down to 24 finalists.
Male champions included defending Margaret River winner Creed McTaggart in the blue ribbon 16 and under boys, Josh Burke (Margaret River) in the 14 and under boys and Jacob Wilcox (Margaret River) in the 12 and under boys, which rounded out a hugely successful weekend for surfers from the South West.
In the female divisions South West surfers featured heavily with Mikaela Greene (Yallingup) taking out top honours in the 16 and under girls, Emi Campbell (Denmark) was victorious in 14 and under girls, and Eliza Greene (Yallingup) matched her older sister’s efforts in the 12 and under girls.
But it was the performances of Creed McTaggart that will have tongues wagging when the National final rolls into Bells next year.
The talented natural footer placed first in each of his heats on the weekend and continually posted some of the weekend’s best scores.
“I’m just so stoked to be heading back to Bells, I really want to do better than my last time there and I’m looking forward to the opportunity,” McTaggart said, who defeated schoolmate Shaun Green (Margaret River), Jordan Lawler (Narrabeen, NSW) and Josh McLachlan (Kalbarri) in an entertaining final.
McTaggart’s last ride was a 6.83 and was enough to secure him back to back GromSearch wins in WA.
“We had some fun waves all weekend, but the wind just swung in before our final.
“I didn’t mind that because I found a few more sections to hit and I was feeling pretty confident going in.
“Shaun Green pushed me heaps, we surf a lot together and it was really tight.”
Less than half a point separated the two when the final siren sounded handing McTaggart a hard fought win and a ticket back to Bells Beach in 2010.
Mikaela Greene was another surfer who was motivated by the allure of Bells Beach, and used smart tactics to guarantee her place on a flight to Victoria next Easter.
“I cant believe it, I have surfed in a few GromSearch events now and always imagined what it would be like winning one, and now I know,” she said.
“All the girls are surfing really well at the moment so I knew it wouldn’t be easy, but I stuck to my guns and I’m stoked with the result.”
Greene defeated Carly Lynch (Dunsborough), Bronte Macaulay (Gracetown) and Skip Van Peer to claim her maiden 16 and under girls title.
In the 14 and under boys, Josh Burke defeated some more fancied opponents with a gutsy last minute win.
The closest final of the day had less than two points separating first to fourth, and it was a late 5.87 ride that gave Burke the nod from the judges.
In a seeing sawing final Burke did enough on his back hand to beat Zac Haynes-Love (City Beach), Jacob Wilcox, and Jordan Lawler who were all surfing on their forehands with predominant left handers on offer.
Jacob Wilcox lived up to his expectations as one of WA’s next rising stars with a dominant performance in the 12 and under boys final.
Wilcox’s stockpile of flashy snaps and turns was enough to see his edge out Jake Wootton (Bells Beach, VIC), Jake Edwards (Cottesloe) and Broghan Moseley (Ocean Reef).
Wilcox has a bright future ahead of him, but the quietly spoken grom wasn’t giving too much away.
Wilcox also picked up the Snickers wave of the day for an impressive tube ride and series of turn earning him the weekend’s highest score of 9.17 (out of a possible 10).
Emi Campbell travelled over five hours to compete at the GromSearch and the youngster made the trip worth while with a win in the 14 and under girls.
Campbell only caught three waves during her final, but the were all quality defeating Hannah Massie (Margaret River), Alex Durant (Carnarvon) and Eliza Greene (Yallingup).
Eliza Greene was in better touch during the 12 and under girls winning ahead of Emi Campbell, Ella Massie (Margaret River), and Luciana Burke (Margaret River).
The GromSearch is one of the longest running and most prestigious junior surfing events in Australia and after this weekend, kids from right across WA will be eagerly marking their calendar in preparation for the series return in 2010.
Winners of the 16s division of the GromSearch ratings will receive a place in the national finals at Bells Beach during the ASP World Tour event, the Rip Curl Pro.
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