Billabong Occy's Grom Comp crowns champs at D-Bah

Billabong Occy's Grom Comp

Surfing Queensland
Duranbah Beach, Coolangatta Queensland
30 June - 5 July 2012

Jackson Baker wins blue ribbon 16 and Under Boys division

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 5 July, 2012 : - - Jackson Baker (Merewether, NSW) won the blue ribbon 16 and Under Boys division today at the 2012 Billabong Occy’s Grom Comp. Posting a combined two-wave heat total of 17.23 points (out of a possible 20), Baker defeated Jeames Young (Yamba, NSW – 14.50) who finished second in the man-on-man final.

The lead changed several times throughout the 25 minute decider, but it was Baker locking in a 9.83 (out of a possible ten points) towards the end of the heat that ultimately decided the final in clean waves at Duranbah Beach. Kyuss King (Byron Bay, NSW) won the 12 and Under Boys division after posting a combined two-wave heat total of 16.23 points (out of a possible 20).

King defeated Mikey McDonagh (Lennox Head, NSW – 16.10), Billy Harrison (Barwon Heads, VIC – 14.23) and Dextar Muskens (Kirra, Qld – 13.37) who finished second to fourth respectively. King executed critical manoeuvres with speed, power and flow and was rewarded by the judges accordingly, scoring the highest individual wave score of the heat a 9.00 (out of a possible 10).

Alyssa Lock (Snapper Rocks, Qld) won the 14 and Under Girls division after posting a combined two-wave heat total of 15.37 points (out of a possible 20). Lock defeated Laura Poncini (Moffat Beach, Qld – 14.83), Lucy Callister (Noosaville, Qld – 14.70) and Billie Melinz (Coalcliff, NSW – 6.40) who finished second to fourth respectively.

Lock surfed a patient final and came away with the win on her last wave of the 25 minute decider at Duranbah Beach. Holly – Sue Coffey (Coolangatta, Qld) won the 16 and Under Girls, posting a combined two-wave heat total of 14.33 points (out of a possible 20), Coffey defeated Ellie Brooks (Elanora, Qld – 13.00) who finished second in their all-girl duel.

Luke Wrice (Coledale, NSW) won the 14 and Under Boys, posting a combined two-wave heat total of 14.66 points (out of a possible 20), Wrice defeated Shaun Manners (Margaret River, WA – 13.60) with the lead changing several times throughout the 25 minute decider. In the end, it was Wrice who had the better back up wave to come away with the win.

A win on the final day of the Billabong Occy’s Grom Comp is regarded as a major stepping stone to forging a career as a professional surfer in the years to come, with several past champion now competing at the elite level of the sport.

Running from June 30 to July 4, the Billabong Occy’s Grom Comp is a truly international event with competitors travelling from all surfing states of Australia along with international surfers from South Africa, the United State of America, New Zealand, Tahiti and Japan.

In a coup for competitors, for the first time in the event’s nine-year history, a man-on-man heat format will be utilised for the semi-finals and finals of the 16 and Under Boys, 16 and Under Girls and 14 and under Boys divisions, which is being implemented by Billabong as a reflection of the elite Association of Surfing Professional World Tour format.

The enduring popularity of 1999 world surfing champion Mark “Occy” Occhilupo is undeniable and his annual namesake event attracts a host of the world’s elite grommets with past champions including ASP Women’s World Tour competitor Tyler Wright, ASP World Junior champion Jack Freestone and ASP Australian Open champion Matt Banting just to name a few.

There will also be plenty of SONY gear handed out with the “Dig to Win” beach games for competitors attending the event. The Billabong Occy’s Grom Comp is proudly supported by Billabong, SONY, Kirra Surf, Volkswagen and Surfing Queensland.  

www.billabong.com.au
www.surfingqueensland.com
www.facebook.com/surfingqueenslandinc

Source: Surfing QLD

Author: Chad Calderon

Tags: Billabong Occy's Grom Comp, Billabong, Mark Occhilupo, Groms

Events: Surfersvillage