PALM BEACH, SYDNEY
Sunday, 12 December 2021
The final NSW based Woolworths Surfer Groms Comp Series wrapped up with a bang following a giant day of surfing action at Palm Beach.
Former NSW Junior Champion Ben Zanatta Creagh (Dee Why) showed his skills hadn’t lapsed over the years as he put on a dominant performance in the Under-14 Boys. The northern beaches natural footer was able to link together a flurry of impressive forehand snaps and carves to win the final with a solid 14.16 two-wave heat total.
Ben Zanatta Creagh. Photo by Josh Brown/Surfing NSW
Ocea Curtis (Lennox Head) made her journey south worthwhile as she took out the Under-14 Girls division. Curtis used her zappy speedy to her advantage as she nailed a handful of beautiful snaps and carves to post a 10.90 heat total and take the win ahead of perennial event standout Ruby Trew (Manly) who finished in second place.
Ocea Curtis. Photo by Josh Brown/Surfing NSW
Locana Cullen (Avalon) put an end to Jaggar Phillips (Maroubra) dominant run in the Under-12 division as he finished the final with decent 12.24 total. Cullen and Phillips were two of the standouts of the age division, however when the final hooter blew it was Cullen who got the win in the final NSW Woolworths Surfer Groms Comp event of the year.
Talia Tebb (Central Coast) shone in the Under-12 Girls final finishing with a solid 12.34 final total, which left all her fellow finalists needing combinations of scores to take away her lead.
Talia Tebb. Photos by Josh Brown/Surfing NSW
On Saturday December 11th the final NSW based Woolworths Surfer Groms Comp Series got underway in challenging conditions at Curl Curl Beach.
Locana Cullen (Avalon) was the standout performer finding an eight-point ride for a nice right-hand wave that allowed for multiple manoeuvres.
Jaggar Philips; (Maroubra) campaign to pick up his third Under-12 Boys win for the 2021 series looked to be in trouble until the dying minutes of his heat. The powerful goofy-footer looked like he was on the back foot until he found a fun righthand peak that allowed him to perform one nice backhand turn and post a 6.83 wave score.
Grace Gosby (Cronulla) led the charge for the ladies today, finding the fickle lefts in the Under-14 Girls division. However, the promising up-and-comer was able to muster up a decent 5.83 wave score for some powerful rail surfing that allowed her to claim her heat.
Grace Gosby. Photo by Josh Brown/Surfing NSW
All other results can be seen here and below.
The elite event saw male and female surfers competing in four different age divisions, starting at Under-8’s right through to the Under-14’s and and is one of the series run in the state this year.
All competitors and spectators must abide by the COVID-19 regulations that will be in place on the event days.
Regarded as one of the major steppingstones in the development of young Australian surfers, the 10-event Woolworths Surfer Groms Comps series caters for surfers from Under 8 to Under 14 and will be held in New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, Western Australia, Tasmania and South Australia over summer.
As an added bonus, the respective winners of the Under 14 boys’ and girls’ divisions from each event will receive an invite to attend an all-expenses-paid, three-day Woolworths Surfer Groms Comps National Final Surf Camp, (1-day coaching clinic, two days of competition and heat analysis coaching) at the Surfing Australia High-Performance Centre (HPC). For the South Australian, Victorian and Tasmanian events, the Woolworths Surf Camp prize will be awarded to the highest place Under-14 Boy and Girl who reside in that respective state.
Surfing Australia High-Performance Centre winner. Photo by Josh Brown/Surfing NSW
Surfing Australia High-Performance Centre winner. Photo by Josh Brown/Surfing NSW
Specialty awards to be provided at each event include the Woolworths Fresh Wave (boy & girl) and Pic’s Peanut Butter Star Performers (boy & girl).
Woolworths Fresh Wave winner. Photo by Josh Brown/Surfing NSW
Woolworths Fresh Wave winner. Photo by Josh Brown/Surfing NSW
Pic’s Peanut Butter Star Performer. Photo by Josh Brown/Surfing NSW
Pic’s Peanut Butter Star Performer. Photo by Josh Brown/Surfing NSW
Woolworths Surfer Groms Comps 2021 Schedule:
- Surfer Groms Comps – EVENT 1 – Fleurieu Peninsula, SA – Oct 16, 2021
- Surfer Groms Comps – EVENT 2 – Trigg, WA – Oct 23 – 24, 2021
- Surfer Groms Comps – EVENT 3 – Clifton Beach, TAS – Oct 30, 2021
- Surfer Groms Comps – EVENT 4 – Coffs Harbour, NSW – Nov 6 – 7, 2021
- Surfer Groms Comps – EVENT 5 – Kiama, NSW – Nov 13 -14, 2021
- Surfer Groms Comps – EVENT 6 – Gold Coast, QLD – Nov 20 – 21, 2021
- Surfer Groms Comps – EVENT 7 – Torquay, VIC – Nov 27 – 28, 2021
- Surfer Groms Comps – EVENT 8 – Cronulla, NSW – Dec 4 – 5, 2021
- Surfer Groms Comps – EVENT 9 – Northern Beaches, NSW – Dec 11 – 12, 2021
- Surfer Groms Comps – EVENT 10 – Sunshine Coast, QLD – Dec 11 – 12, 2021
- Surfer Groms Comps – Nat Final – Surfing Aus HPC, Casuarina NSW – Dec 17 – 19, 2021
NOTE: Due to the ongoing COVID-19 situation and Surfing Australia’s commitment to comply with all State and Federal regulations, series dates are subject to change at any time.
Results
14 & Under Male
1 Ben Zanatta Creagh
2 Rene Galloway
3 Murray Bamberry
4 Balin Cullen
14 & Under Female - Final
1 Ocea Curtis
2 Ruby Trew
3 Grace Gosby
4 Isabel Higgs
12 & Under Male
1 Locana Cullen
2 Jaggar Phillips
3 Harry Blanchfield
4 Banjo Harvey
12 & Under Female
1 Talia Tebb
2 Gidget Kowalski
3 Olivia Shannon
4 Kalani Grayson
10 & Under Male
1 Jacques Callebaut
2 Hayden Mee
3 Ollie Croft
4 Andy Blanchfield
10 & Under Female
1 Olive Morriss
2 Mila Grainger
3 Jazz Kennedy
4 Isla Vaeliki
8 & Mixed
1 Maverick Macgugan
2 Hayden Mee
3 Thomas Hegarty
4 Clive Morriss
Photos by Josh Brown/Surfing NSW
Grace Gosby
Jaggar Phillips
Locana Cullen
Maverick Macgugan
Mia MacMahon
Murray Bamberry
Nixon Clark
Ocea Curtis
Olive Morriss
Rene Galloway
Rene Galloway
Ruby Trew
