Billabong Grom Series
in Association with Oceanbridge, Event One

Surfing New Zealand
Tay Street, Mount Maunganui.
21 - 22 January 2006

SUN SHINES ON THE FIRST EVENT OF THE BILLABONG GROM SERIES

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 21 January, 2006 : - - Day one action at the Billabong Grom Series Event One presented by Oceanbridge was so hot that it burnt away the morning cloud and turned into a ripper of a day.  Tay Street, Mount Maunganui was the venue with a small 0.5m – 1.0m swell which the e2 charged grommets took to like there was no tomorrow.  Right beside the event the Billabong Girls Get Out There Day advanced through three full lessons with more than 50 young girls taking the plunge and learning to surf for the first time. 

The fickle conditions made life difficult for competitors and it was the local surfers that capitalised using their knowledge to be day one stand outs.  Local surfer Matthew Hewitt surfed from round one to progress to the quarter finals scoring (9.95) and along his way eliminating number one seed Paco Divers (Sandy Bay).  In a tight heat Hewitt surfed aggressively linking several turns together while Divers could not find the longer waves and finished in third (9.45) behind an elated Tane Wallis of Piha (9.50) who is contesting all three divisions at this event.  The elimination of Divers throws the Series wide open and the ticket to Australia and entry into Occy’s Grom Comp for the winner of the series could now go to a number of surfers. 

Other surfers that were producing the goods included Taranaki’s Keone Campbell, Karne Pitcher (WGM) and Braedon Williams (WGM) who all won their heats to progress through to the quarter finals.  The three surfers along with Matthew Hewitt will go into day two as hot contenders for the under 16 title. 

Mount Maunganui’s Alex Dive was another local to dominate, this time in the Under 14 Boys Division.  Dive top scored for the round with 13.0 points and showed huge amounts flare and surfed with speed in the small waves that wee on offer.  While the artificial reef was not on fire, it has produced good banks on either side and this is what the Under 14’s tore apart over the fuller tide.  Johnny Hicks (Gis) and Karne Pitcher were also in good form as they progressed to the quarter finals with scores of 13.0 and 12.75 respectively. 

Paige Hareb of Taranaki found herself in familiar territory as she dominated her round one heat in the Under 16 Girls.  Hareb scored 9.0 in her heat to win out over Grace Spiers (WGM) who placed second to move through to the semi finals.  Auckland’s Annie Stuart was another heat winner along with fellow Auckland surfer India Wray Murane and who pipped local surfer Anna Hadfield (Mnt) for first in their heat.  

The Under 14 Boys quarterfinals were run late on Saturday afternoon.  Results were not available at the time this media release was distributed.  Similar conditions are forecast for tomorrow (Sunday) with light variable winds and a slight increase in the swell. 

Below are the results of day one at the Billabong Grom Series presented by Oceanbridge. 

U16 BOYS ROUND ONE 

Heat one  Matt Hewitt (Mnt), 1, Matthew Valentine (Mnt), 2, Joel Hodgson (TGA), 3
Heat two: Dahnu Graham (Auck), 1, Ben Poulter (Piha), 2
Heat three; Sam Guthrie (Mnt), 1, Travis McCoy (TGA), 2, Nick Evenmy (Mnt), 3
Heat four: Thomas Hardwick (Mnt), 1, Peter Ralph (Russell), 2, Tom Smith (Tara), 3
Heat five; Nathan Stewart (TGA), 1, Alex Sutherland (TGA), 2, Nick Love (TGA), 3
Heat six: Jay Paddock (Gis), 1, Joshua Curtis (Mnt), 2, Sam Love (Auck), 3
Heat seven: Land'em Collier (Gis), 1, Todd Hale (Kait), 2
Heat eight: Anton McCoy (TGA), 1, Nathan Miller (TGA), 2, Kieran Pullman (Sandy Bay), n/s,

U16 BOYS ROUND TWO

Heat one: Matt Hewitt (Mnt), 1, Tane Wallis (Piha), 2, Paco Divers (Sandy Bay), 3, Matthew Valentine (Mnt), 4
Heat two: Tim Thompson (Auck), 1, Zen Wallis (Piha), 2, Ben Poulter (Piha), 3, Dahnu Graham (Auck), 4
Heat three: Keone Campbell (Tara), 1, Adam Cranston (Gis), 2, Travis McCoy (TGA), 3, Sam Guthrie (Mnt), 4
Heat four: Oliver Mason (Auck), 1, Johnny Hicks (Gis), 2, Peter Ralph (Russell), 3, Thomas Hardwick (Mnt), 4
Heat five: Braedon Williams (WGM), 1, Mathis Smith (Tara), 2, Nathan Stewart (TGA), 3, Alex Sutherland (TGA), 4
Heat six: Karne Pitcher (WGM), 1, Jay Paddock (Gis), 2, Joshua Curtis (Mnt) 3, Stefan White (WGM), 4
Heat seven: Tyler Anderson (Tara), 1, Ryan Heath (WGM), 2, Land'em Collier (Gis), 3, Todd Hale (Kait), 4
Heat eight : Buck Woods (Gis), 1, Oliver Bone (Sandy Bay), 2, Anton McCoy (TGA), 3, Nathan Miller (TGA), 4

U16 BOYS ROUND QUARTER FINALS (Yet to be surfed)

Heat one: Matt Hewitt (Mnt), Tane Wallis (Piha), Tim Thompson (Auck), Zen Wallis (Piha)
Heat two: Keone Campbell (Tara), Adam Cranston (Gis), Oliver Mason (Auck), Johnny Hicks (Gis)
Heat three: Braedon Williams (WGM), Mathis Smith (Tara), Karne Pitcher (WGM), Jay Paddock (Gis)
Heat four: Tyler Anderson (Tara), Ryan Heath (WGM), Buck Woods (Gis), Oliver Bone (Sandy Bay) 

U14 BOYS ROUND ONE

Heat one: Johnny Hicks (Gis), 1, Cody Hale (Kait), 2, Connor Anderson (Oakura), 3
Heat two: Mark Pathemore (Tara), 1, Blake Myers (WGM), 2, Reno Marriott (Gis), 3, Damien Tafu (Piha), 4
Heat three: Land'em Collier (Gis), 1, Fraser Chatham (WGM), 2, Renzo Ofsofski (Mnt), 3
Heat four: Alex Dive (TGA), 1, Tane Wallis (Piha), 2, Ben Stewart (WGM), 3 
Heat five: Ben Poulter (Piha), 1, Brad Pitcher (WGM), 2, Ricky Hokopaura (Tara), 3, Mitchell O’Sullivan (Auck), 4
Heat six: Karne Pitcher (WGM), 1, Kahu Craig Te Ranga (Waihi Bch), 2, Dylan Pidgeon (Mnt), 3

U14 BOYS QUARTER FINALS (Surfed late on Saturday afternoon) 

Heat one; Johnny Hicks (Gis), Cody Hale (Kait), Mark Pathemore (Tara), Blake Myers (WGM)
Heat two; Land'em Collier (Gis), Fraser Chatham (WGM), Alex Dive (TGA), Tane Wallis (Piha)
Heat three; Ben Poulter (Piha), Brad Pitcher (WGM), Karne Pitcher (WGM), Kahu Craig Te Ranga (Waihi Bch) 

U12 BOYS SEMI FINALS (Yet to be surfed) 

Heat one; Tane Wallis (Piha), Brad Pitcher (WGM), Kahu Craig Te Ranga (Waihi Bch), Damien Tafu (Piha)
Heat two; Ben Poulter (Piha), Peri Matenga (Mnt), Samuel Poulter (Piha), Cory Asplin (Rag)

U16 GIRLS ROUND 1 

Heat one: Paige Hareb (Tara), 1, Grace Spiers (WGM), 2, Georgia Davidson (WGM), 3, Mikayla Zandstra (TGA), 4
Heat two; Annie Stuart (Auck), 1, Alexis Poulter (Piha), 2, Casey Stevens (Oakura), 3, Alex Walker (WGM), 4
Heat three: Lindia Wray-Murane (Mur), 1, Anna Hadfield (Mnt), 2, Rosa Thompson (Auck), 3, Grace Beange (Waihi Bch), 4 

U16 GIRLS SEMI FINALS (Yet to be surfed) 

Heat one; Paige Hareb (Tara), Alexis Poulter (Piha), Grace Spiers (WGM)
Heat two: India Wray-Murane (Mur), 1, Annie Stuart (Auck), Anna Hadfield (Mnt)

U14 GIRLS SEMI FINALS (Yet to be surfed)

Heat one; Grace Spiers (WGM), Georgia Cooper (Auck), Rosa Thompson (Auck) Ngarongo Phillips (ChCh)
Heat two; Renee Pearson (Gis), Alexis Poulter (Piha), Ella Williams (WGM), Casey Stevens (Oakura) 

U12 GIRLS SEMI FINALS (Yet to be surfed) 

Heat one: Ella Williams (WGM), Gabe Marriott (Gis)
Heat two: Crystal Hale (Kait), Rosie Majurey, Abby Jordan (Mnt) 

Competitors are to meet at Tay Street, Mount Maunganui Sunday morning at 7.00am.  The event will be completed by 3pm with the prize giving scheduled to take place at the beach at the conclusion of the finals.  For further information on the Billabong Grom Series presented by Oceanbridge, please contact Ben Kennings at Surfing New Zealand 0274787369 or email benkennings@surfingnz.co.nz. 

Background Event Information
The Grom Series visits three of New Zealand’s most noted surf beaches being Mount Maunganui, Whangamata (4th – 5th Feb) and Piha on Auckland’s West Coast  (11th – 12th March).  Over the past several years, similar events have spawned what are now household surfing names in the form of 2005 Open and Junior Men’s National Champion Richard Christie (Mah), 2004 National Women’s Champion Airini Mason (Gis), and current Junior Men’s Champion Kierin Van Der Helder (Rag).  The Billabong Grom Series will again unearth New Zealand’s future stars in 2006 as the cream of the crop rise to the challenge.

The events also provide the first time opportunity for many youngsters to surf competitively.  Along with this experience, each competitor gets to meet other surfers from around New Zealand making friendships and becoming familiar with what it takes to make it to the top of their sport.  In 2006 Oceanbridge are the presenting sponsors and the event is held in association with e2, Clearasil and UV Triple Guard.  Each event will feature a stack of giveaways from these sponsors as well as games for the competitors and spectators.

Keep your eyes peeled for the Billabong Grom Series Event near you:

Billabong Grom Series Event One – January 21st/22nd Mount Maunganui
Billabong Grom Series Event Two – February 4th/5th Whangamata
Billabong Grom Series Event Three – March 11th/12th Piha Beach Auckland

*The Billabong Occy Grom Comp does not have an Under 12 Girls Division and therefore no air ticket or entry will be awarded for that division. The Billabong Grom Series is brought to you by Billabong, Oceanbridge, e2, Clearasil, UV Triple Guard, The Edge, Von Vipper and Kustom. The event would not be possible without the assistance of Bay Boardriders and Surfing New Zealand.

More Australasian Surfing News available here
Check the latest Australasian Surf Reports and Forecasts

Ben Kennings
benkennings@surfingnz.co.nz

SNZ Contests - Surfersvillage