Billabong Grom Series
in Association with Oceanbridge

Surfing New Zealand
Boys/Girls Under 16, 14 and 12
Whangamata Beach, NZ.
4 - 5 February 2006

DIVERS DEMOLISHES OPPONENTS AT BILLABONG GROM SERIES

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 5 February, 2006 : - - Today (Sunday) Paco Divers (Sandy Bay) won the premier Under 16 Boys division of the Billabong Grom Series Event two held in association with Oceanbridge.  Divers has fast become one of the most explosive young surfers in New Zealand and today he absolutely took apart the small 0.5m waves at Whangamata Beach.  Clearly surfing with superior speed, Divers jumped out to an early lead in the final scoring 6.0 and 5.25 on his first two waves.  From there Divers loosened up and started busting out some big moves including several fins free aerials to build on his lead.  It was a somewhat relieving win for Divers who in the first leg of the series suffered a shock loss in the early rounds hampering his series aspirations. 

Taranaki’s Keone Campbell worked hard in the small waves but could not challenge Divers for the lead ending up with a score of 9.75 for second place ahead of Matt Hewitt (Mnt) in third and Sean Peggs in fourth.  Peggs and Hewitt got tangled up in an interference late in the heat which pushed Peggs back to fourth. 

Alex Dive, best mate of Matt Hewitt made sure he kept up with his buddy
with a podium finish in the Under 14s: Pic NZ Surfing Magazine.

The win all but seals a spot in the national team for Divers while the other three finalists will have one last chance next week to impress selectors before they pick a team of four Under 16 surfers to compete in Brazil in May.  Campbell has placed second in the last two Billabong Grom Series events while Hewitt has secured two thirds in the same events.  Peggs has secured two fourths in the last two events he has contested. 

The race for the air ticket and entry into Occy’s Grom Comp in Queensland Australia for the winner of the series has been busted wide open after two events.  Keone Campbell and Matt Hewitt have the upper hand in the race but wins to Buck Woods (Gis) in Event One and Paco Divers at this event mean they could come from behind and snatch the main prize.  One thing for certain is that it will all be decided at the final event in the series to be held at Piha in five weeks time. 

Matt Hewitt (Mnt) putting in a solid performance to finish third
in the Under 16s :NZ Surfing Magazine.

Paige Hareb (Tara) continued her domination of the Under 16 Girls and kept at bay a rising star in Grace Spiers (WGM).  Hareb with a total score of 14.25 outclassed the other three finalists and made the trip (and missing her brothers 21st birthday) all the worth while.  Spiers, who earlier won the Under 14 Girls surfed well in the small conditions to score 10.50 ahead of Anna Hadfield (Mnt) in third and India Wray Murane (Mur) in fourth.  

Karne Pitcher became the home town hero as he won a tight Under 14 boys final ahead of archrival Johnny Hicks (Gis).  The two surfers were locked in a tie until Pitcher’s last wave in the dying seconds of the final.  With a heat high 6.5 point ride under his belt Pitcher scraped into a nice little wave to score 4.35 which was enough to move into outright first.  Hicks had to settle for a close second only 0.25 points ahead of Alex Dive (Mnt).  Double finalist Tane Wallis (Piha) rounded out the top four surfers in fourth place scoring a total of 8.0. 

Karne Pitcher won out in the Under 14s at his home break:
pic NZ Surfing Magazine

Grace Spiers took out another event title in the Under 14 Girls, this time almost sealing the victory in the first 10 minutes by scoring two 7.0 point rides.  At her home break Spiers looked unstoppable stylishly completing big turns on both her forehand and back hand.  This is Spiers second win in the series and barring a major upset she looks poised to claim the series with one event remaining.  Gisborne’s Renee Pearson went one better than the last event placing second with two good scoring rides and a heat total of 11.15.  Georgia Cooper (Piha) placed third ahead of Alexis Poulter (Piha) in fourth.  

Ben Poulter came out the victor in the Under 12 Boys after fierce battle with fellow Piha surfer Tane Wallis.  Poulter endeavoured to prevent Wallis from catching any waves for the last five minutes of the heat after scoring 9.0 and 7.0 on his best two waves.  The tactic paid off and an ecstatic Poulter came in with the biggest smile on his face after beating Wallis for the first time this year.  Wallis had to be content with second and now the two surfers are tied up going into the final event of the series.  Whoever wins the last event will ultimately win the trip to Australia and entry into Occy’s Grom Comp.  Kahu Craig Te Ranga (Waihi Bch) placed third after racking up plenty of good rides.  Dune Kennings placed fourth after incurring an interference for dropping in on another surfer but will be stoked to make his first ever final.  

Johnny Hicks (Gis) just got pipped for second in the Under 14s:
pic NZ Surfing Magazine 

Long time competitor Lucy Brankin (Tara) finally got a deserved win in the Under 12 Girls.  Brankin has been attending the grommet events for a number of years and today it all came together as she rode to a 13.35 total to run away with her first title.  Gabe Marriott (Gis) challenged early on with her first scoring ride of 6.0 but had to settle for second just ahead of local surfer Ella Williams who had a heat total of 8.9 in third and Georgia Te Brake (WGM) competing for her first time placing fourth. 

Below are the final results for the Billabong Grom Series Event Two presented by Oceanbridge held at Whangamata over the weekend. 

U16 BOYS FINALS
Paco Divers (Sandy Bay), 1, Keone Campbell (Tara), 2, Matt Hewitt (Mnt), 3, Sean Peggs (Tairua), 4

U14 BOYS FINALS
Karne Pitcher, (Whmata), 1, Johnny Hicks (Gis), 2, Alex Dive (Tauranga), 3, Tane Wallis (Piha), 4

U12 BOYS FINALS
Ben Poulter (Piha), 1, Tane Wallis (Piha), 2, Kahu Craig Te Ranga (Waihi Bch), 3, Dune Kennings (Whmata), 4,

U16 GIRLS FINALS
Paige Hareb (Tara), 1, Grace Spiers (Whmata), 2, Anna Hadfield (Mnt), 3, India Wray Murane (Mur), 4

U14 GIRLS FINALS
Grace Spiers (Whmata), 1, Renee Pearson (Gis), 2, Georgia Cooper (Auck), 3, Alexis Poulter (Waihi Beach), 4

U12 GIRLS FINALS
Lucy Brankin (Oakura), 1, Gabe Marriott (Gis), 2, Ella Williams (Whmata), 3, Georgia Te Brake (WGM), 4 

Complete results for the Billabong Grom Series Event Two presented by Oceanbridgeare available at http://www.surf.co.nz/ 

Background Event Information 

The Grom Series visits three of New Zealand’s most noted surf beaches being Mount Maunganui, Whangamata 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 remaining Billabong Grom Series event: 

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 Whangamata Boardriders and Surfing New Zealand.

www.billabong.com

Previous reports:
# 1 : Huge field enters Billabong Whangamata Grom Series

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Ben Kennings
benkennings@surfingnz.co.nz

SNZ Grom Contests - Surfersvillage