Billabong Grom Series
Presented by Oceanbridge

SNZ
Whangamata New Zealand
16 - 17 February 2008

Hicks and Thompson Take Titles at Billabong Grom Series Whangamata

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 17 February, 2008 : - - Despite continued small conditions at Whangamata Beach on Sunday, the under 16 divisions of event two of the Billabong Grom Series presented by Oceanbridge were completed.  Small 0.5m swell conditions prevailed but the good sand banks provided enough form in the waves for Johnny Hicks (Gis) and Rosa Thompson (Auck) to take their first titles of the three event series and get themselves back into contention for the series win.

Hicks was one of the bigger competitors of the event but managed to manoeuvre his way to some great scores throughout the event including the final where he narrowly edged out event one winner Alex Dive (Mnt).  Hicks had to tackle the small righthanders on his backhand but his flowing top to bottom turns proved to be the answer when he scored a final-high 6.0 point ride on his last scoring wave to jump from second to first.

Seemingly destine for another second placing until his last wave, Hicks was still surprised come prizegiving time when he was announced the winner.  Stunned, his eyes jumped to attention as he was announced the winner moments after he pre-empted a second placing and proceeded toward the podium.

The final was hampered by the incoming tide which was killing what swell there was.  Dive had initially taken the lead in the final after speeding along a couple of great waves completing fast speed line floaters to post 5.25 and 4.5 point waves.  However it was not enough to match the full backhand turns of Hicks.

Rosa Thompson : photo NZ Surfing Magazine

The two surfers now have a win a piece in the Billabong Grom Series presented by Oceanbridge and will go into the Piha leg of the series with a winner takes all scenario.  The winner of each division in the series wins a trip to Australia to compete in the Occy Grom Comp held at Duranbah in July.

Placing third today was local surfer Blake Myers.  Myers, another solidly built young surfer could not use his power to his advantage in the final today but will be happy to get a podium finish for the third straight under 16 event this summer.  Tane Wallis (Piha) used all his strategic skills possible to move through to the final today after engaging in several close tussles and paddling duels. 

Good surfing, his knowledge of the competitive arena and his calm demeanour paid off with the finals berth and eventual fourth placing.  Wallis was a double finalist at the event having placed second in the under 14 boys division on Saturday.

Earlier in the day Dive and Myers eliminated an in form James Tume (Wgtn) and Joe Moretti (Mimwhangata) in semifinal one while Hicks and Wallis eliminated Joe’s younger brother Paul Moretti and Darcy Bowden (Sandy Bay) in semifinal two.

Rosa Thompson (Auck) mustered up all the energy she could to win the under 16 girls division.  The girls final was also victim of an incoming tide but Thompson looked amped for her heat hussling for waves and surfing whatever she caught with vigour.  Thompson finished with a heat total of 9.0 points (out of a possible 20) in a low scoring affair to beat comeback girl Grace Spiers (WGM).

Alex Dive : photo NZ Surfing Magazine

Spiers made a good fist of her first grom event back scoring 8.1 points to place second.  Her form in the small waves suggested she lost none of the competitive ability that she has acquired over the years.  Spiers required a 5.25 late in the heat but on her last wave fell short posting a 4.35.

Jayda Martin – Fitzharris (Gis) placed third in the final after her runner up placing in the under 14 girls division on Saturday.  Alethea Lock (Chch) placed Fourth in the final one place behind her third placing in the under 14s held on Saturday. Today’s result sees Thompson jump into the lead on the ratings after an early exit by event one winner and previous ratings leader Alexis Poulter (Rag) who now sits in second and Jayda Martin – Fitzharris (Rag) sits in third.

Mount Maunganui surfer Alex Dive surfed to a 17.93 point heat total in the quarterfinals to take the Panasonic highest heat score of the event award and walk away with a new digital camera.  Both Johnny Hicks and Rosa Thompson also walked away with new Panasonic sound systems for winning their respective divisions.

Under 16 Boys Quarterfinals
Heat 1 James Tume (Wgn), 1, Blake Myers (Whamata), 2, Dune Kennings (Whmata), 3, Reno Marriott (Gis), 4
Heat 2 Alex Dive (Tauranga), 1, Joe Moretti (Mimiwhangata), 2, Todd Doyle (Mnt), 3, Ethan Burge (Wgtn), 4
Heat 3 Johnny Hicks (Gis), 1, Paul Moretti (Mimiwhangata), 2, Adam Grimson (Gis), 3, Elliot Paerata - Reid (Piha), 4
Heat 4 Tane Wallis (Piha), 1, Darcy Bowden (Sandy), 2, Ben Poulter (Piha), 3, Connor Anderson (Tara), 4

Under 16 Boys Semifinals
Heat 1 Alex Dive (Tauranga), 1, Blake Myers (Whamata), 2, James Tume (Wgn), 3, Joe Moretti (Mimiwhangata), 4
Heat 2 Johnny Hicks (Gis), 1, Tane Wallis (Piha), 2, Paul Moretti (Mimiwhangata), 3, Darcy Bowden (Sandy), 4

Under 16 Boys Finals
Johnny Hicks (Gis), 1, Alex Dive (Tauranga), 2, Blake Myers (Whamata), 3, Tane Wallis (Piha), 4

Under 16 Girls Semifinals
Heat 1 Rosa Thompson (Auck), 1, Grace Spiers (Whmata), 2, Alexis Poulter (Rag), 3
Heat 2 Alethea Lock (Chch), 1, Jayda Martin-Fitzharris (Gis), 2, Ella Spiers (Whmata), 3

Under 16 Girls Final
Rosa Thompson (Auck), 1, Grace Spiers (Whmata), 2, Jayda Martin-Fitzharris (Gis), 3, Alethea Lock (Chch), 4

Make sure you get to the final event of the series this summer: Billabong Grom Series Event Three – 5th - 6th April Piha Beach, Auckland

The Billabong Grom Series is brought to you by Billabong, Oceanbridge, Nickelodeon, Coke, Panasonic, Von Vipper and Kustom, NZ Surfing Magazine and Girlfriend Magazine. Surfing New Zealand are proudly partnered by Corona, Hyundai, SPARC & Smokefree.

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