Rip Curl Gromsearch
Presented by Island Tribe

Kommetjie, Cape Town
27-28 September 2008 

Davey Brand and Sarah Baum grab Rip Curl Gromsearch U16 titles in Cape Town

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 28 September, 2008 : - - Davey Brand and Sarah Baum grabbed the premier U16 boys and girls’ titles in the third leg of the Rip Curl Gromsearch presented by Island Tribe held in small 0.5 to one metre but very contestable waves at Long Beach in Kommetjie on Sunday.

It was Brand’s second successive victory in the series, coming after his win in Mossel Bay three weeks ago, and the 14 year-old goofy-foot was unbeatable in the predominantly left breaking waves, carving, slashing and tail-sliding his way to a comprehensive 15.75 to 12.25 point  defeat of JC Susan from Melkbosstrand.

“Thanks to Rip Curl for bringing the Gromsearch series to the best contest venue in the country,” Brand said wryly while pocketing his R2 000 winner’s payout. “And thanks to Jacob Mellish for spotting the best waves for me in the final.”

Mellish (Somerset West), who was the runner-up in Mossel Bay, and Kommetjie local Bradley van Zyl ended equal third following semifinal losses to Susan and Brand respectively, with van Zyl earning an invitation to the Rip Curl Gromsearch SA Grand Finals to be staged ‘Somewhere’ in KwaZulu-Natal in November by finishing in the top four.

Baum, like Brand a 14 year-old goofy-foot, completely dominated both the U16 and U14 girls’ events, fully justifying her long journey from Athlone Park just south of Durban to Cape Town. Showing excellent wave selection and phenomenal speed on the face of waves, she reveled in the lefts, surfing right in the power pocket and boosting a couple of aerial manoeuvres on her way to podium.

Tanika Hoffman used her home break knowledge to stay within striking distance of Baum in the U16 event, taking second place ahead of Sabrina Scott (Glencairn) and Anna Notten (St James) both of whom were left in a combination situation and needing to improve on both their scoring rides. Anoush Zakarian (Melkbosstrand) was runner-up in the U14 girls with Amy Bosworth (Kommetjie) and Camden Ravenscroft placed third and fourth.

Benji Brand emulated his elder brother Davey’s success by clinching the U14 boys’ final, scoring a clear cut decision over fellow Long Beach standout Jarred Veldhuis after the pair had ousted Slade Prestwich (Park Rynie, Southern KZN) and Max Armstrong (Kommetjie) respectively in the man-on-man semifinals.

Armstrong delighted his sponsors by turned the tables on the younger Brand in the four- man U12 final, earning his third straight title in as many weeks at U12 level. Jonah Paarman (Kommetjie) clinched third spot in what is likely to be his last event in SA for some time as he off to the Caribbean with his parents, and emerging force Donovan Wichman (Marina da Gama) took fourth.

The fourth and final event in the 2008 Rip Curl Gromsearch series presented by Island Tribe is the SA Grand Finals to be held in KZN on the weekend 1 & 2 November. The winner of the U16 boys and girls’ divisions in the Grand Finals are awarded invitations plus air tickets to the International Grand Finals at Bells Beach in Australia next Easter.

The International finals at Easter this year were won by 2007 SA Gromsearch champion Dale Staples (St Francis Bay) with Sarah Baum taking third place in the girl’s event.

Rip Curl Gromsearch presented by Island Tribe Cape Town Results

U/16 Boys
1.  Davey Brand (Kommetjie)                                   R2 000
2.  JC Susan (Melkbosstrand)                                 R1 000
=3.  Bradley van Zyl (Kommetjie)                            R   500
=3.  Jacob Mellish (Somerset West)                       R   500

U/14 Boys
1.  Benji Brand (Kommetjie)                                     R1 600
2.  Jarred Veldhuis (Kommetjie)                              R   800
=3.  Max Armstrong (Kommetjie)                             R   300
=3.  Slade Prestwich (Park Rynie)                          R   300

U/12 Boys
1.  Max Armstrong (Kommetjie)                              R1 000
2.  Benji Brand (Kommetjie)                                     R   600
3.  Jonah Paarman (Kommetjie)                              R   300
4.  Donovan Wichman (Marina da Gama) R   100

U/16 Girls
1.  Sarah Baum (Athlone Park)                               R1 000
2.  Tanika Hoffman (Kommetjie)                              R   600
3.  Anna Notten (St James)                                    R   300
4.  Sabrina Scott (Glencairn)                                  R   100

U/14 Girls
1.  Sarah Baum (Athlone Park)                               R800
2.  Anoush Zakarian (Melkbosstrand)                     R400
3.  Amy Bosworth (Kommetjie)                                R200
4.  Camden Ravenscroft                                          R100

The Rip Curl Gromsearch series presented by Island Tribe is sanctioned by Surfing South Africa (SSA), the national controlling body for the sport, and forms part of the SSA Pro Surf Tour (PST) with ratings points from each event counting towards the annual PST champions.

Dates and venues for the 2008 Rip Curl Gromsearch events presented by Island Tribe
GROMSEARCH # 1 : DAIRY,DBN : JUNE 21&22 - COMPLETED
GROMSEARCH # 2 : MOSSEL BAY : SEPT 6&7
GROMSEARCH # 3 : CAPE TOWN : SEP 27&28
GROMSEARCH FINAL : ‘SOMEWHERE’ in KZN : NOV 1&2

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