CONTEST NEWS: Rip Curl GromSearch Durban presented by Sea Harvest
Nate Tayler (Ballito) and Emily Jenkinson (Kommetjie) emerged victorious in the Premier U16 Girls and Boys Divisions after star performances in their respective final heats.
In the boys, a huge last-minute clutch aerial move saw Tayler get the nod from the judges and regain the lead he held earlier on from Loghann Tilsley (Strand). Ben Esterhuyse (CT) and Slayde Shooter (Cape St Francis) were third and fourth.
Emily Jenkinson (Kom) was surfing with intent in the Premier U16 Girls division, but Max Kauffman (Westbrook) was chasing her heels for the win. At the final siren, Jenkinson just staved Kauffman off by just over a point for the win, with Leah Lepront (Scottburgh) and Camilla Heuer (EL) in third and fourth, respectively.
The U18 Division was also intense, with both finals being full-on affairs. In the Boys, it was Kai Hall (Durban) keeping Loghann Tilsley at bay until the final hooter for the win, with Nate Tayler and Clayton Turrell (South Coast) in the minor positions.
The U18 Division was also intense, with both finals being full-on affairs. In the Boys, it was Kai Hall (Durban) keeping Loghann Tilsley at bay until the final hooter for the win, with Nate Tayler and Clayton Turrell (South Coast) in the minor positions.
In the U18 Girls, Louise Lepront (Scottburgh) was dominant on her backhand, keeping the on-form Jenkinson at bay. Lepront took the win from the natural-footed Jenkinson, who was looking like she was heading for the double-header. Still, winning first and second place in separate divisions was an outstanding achievement for the Kommetjie surfer.
In the U18 Girls, Louise Lepront (Scottburgh) was dominant on her backhand, keeping the on-form Jenkinson at bay. Lepront took the win from the natural-footed Jenkinson, who was looking like she was heading for the double-header. Still, winning first and second place in separate divisions was an outstanding achievement for the Kommetjie surfer.
There were a couple of hard decisions to be made before this event commenced when the sardines descended on the primary event site, Scottburgh, on the KZN South Coast.
“We were monitoring the situation closely, but the sardines are unpredictable, and after consulting with relevant scientists and the sardine-run monitoring team, as well as with sponsor Rip Curl, we decided to move to New Pier for safety reasons, ” said Surfing South Africa Vice President Anne Wright.
“It was the right decision. The waves were excellent on the opening day, very good on day two and still pretty decent for the finals day.”
In the always-exciting U12 and U14 divisions, it was great to see some fresh faces emerging from the divisions that indicate our future champions. These divisions are incredibly competitive, and while the groms might be best of friends on land, when they hit the water, it’s a war out there.
Standouts in the U12 girls were Ella Van Der Made and Summer Harding (Cape St Francis). Ethan Schermbrucker (Kom) ruled the U12 Boys, with Tom Pearson (Southbroom) as the runner-up.
Coco Clark (Ballito) won the Girls U14 division from Ella Van De Made, while Marcello Zedde (Ballito) took out the U14 Boys title from Ethan Shermbrucker.
The Rip Curl GromSearch Series comprises four events, and this contest was the third in the series. Series winners are decided on the best three out of the four events, allowing one result as a throwaway.
The winners of the Premier U16 Boys and Girls Divisions will receive an entry into the Rip Curl GromSearch Global Finals, to be held at an as-yet undisclosed venue.
Rip Curl International will take care of them at this event. They will be housed, coached, and tutored by elite Rip Curl pro surfers and have the opportunity to compete against the best groms in the world.
The next event in the Rip Curl GromSearch Series is the final competition, scheduled to take place at Seal Point, Cape St. Francis, in September.
Final Results
U12 Girls
1. Ella van der Made
2. Summer Harding
3. Adriana Canning
4. Lila Prinsloo
U12 Boys
1. Ethan Schermbrucker
2. Tom Pearson
3. Jackson Myers
4. Johnjon Clark
U14 Girls
1. Coco Clark
2. Ella van der Made
3. Summer Harding
4. Lila Prinsloo
U14 Boys
1. Marcello Zedde
2. Ethan Schermbrucker
3. Tyler Balfour
4. Sean Tayler
U18 Girls
1. Louise Lepront
2. Emily Jenkinson
3. Keira Fletcher
4. Max Kauffman
U18 Boys
1. Kai Hall
2. Loghann Tilsley
3. Nathan Tayler
4. Clayton Turrell
PREMIER U16 GIRLS
1. Emily Jenkinson
2. Max Kauffman
3. Leah Lepront
4. Camilla Heuer
PREMIER U16 BOYS
1. Nathan Tayler
2. Loghann Tilsley
3. Ben Esterhuyse
4. Slayde Shooter
Expression Session
Boys Best Air – Xavier Van Der Merwe
Girls Best Air – Emily Jenkinson
Boys Best Move – Rylan Jarvis
Girls Best Move – Louise Lepront
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