Rip Curl GromSearch event 3

Surfing New Zealand
St. Clair Beach, Dunedin NZ
4 - 5 October 2008

Dive Continues His Run Of Form at Rip Curl GromSearch event 3

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 5 October, 2008 : - - Alex Dive (Mnt) was too classy for his opponents in the final of the premier under 16 boys division of the Rip Curl GromSearch event held at St Clair Beach, Dunedin over the weekend.

With overcast skies and challenging conditions with a 1.5 metre swell pushing in, Dive launched into a series of vertical forehand re-entries that saw him rewarded with a 9.25, the events highest wave score.  With his previous wave score a 7.5, Dive had Johnny Hicks (Gis), Ben Poulter (Rag) and Tane Wallis (Piha) needing a combination of scores to catch him. The task proved difficult in the fickle wave conditions.

Poulter found the critical section on his second scoring wave by busting the roof off a double overhead closeout and being rewarded with a 6.5 score for showing commitment.  Poulter’s wave pushed Hicks into third, with wave starved Tane Wallis in fourth place.

Dive claimed the third place in the national Rip Curl GromSearch final to be contested in February 2009.  He joins today’s other finalists in Johnny Hicks and Tane Wallis who have both secured their place in the four man final from results earlier in the year.

Young Jayda Martin-Fitzharris (Gis) was very unlucky leading the final of the under 16 girls until the dying minute when Alexis Poulter (Rag) showed why you should never give up! Poulter’s wave, a series of cutbacks linking to the inside in the last moments, allowed her to secure the winning score to take out the under 16 girls final and her third consecutive Rip Curl GromSearch win.

Chloe Shutt (Gis) and Rosa Thompson (Auck) were left to battle out the minor placings. Martin-Fitzharris by way of her second placing gained a national finals berth also.  She joins Poulter and Thompson as the two other surfers who have qualified through results earlier this year.

The fickle wave conditions continued to play a part in the under 14 boys final. Tane Wallis who was competing in two finals managed to find the set waves, linking his manoeuvres through the flat sections to the reforms on the inside.

Poulter who was perhaps suffering from the chilly water conditions struggled to find the correct take off spot during this final and placed fourth. Peri Matenga (Mnt) and Elliot Perata-Reid (Piha) showed maturity and flair to place second and third respectively.

Also surfing in two finals was Gisborne’s Jayda Martin-Fitzharris.  Large challenging waves proved no obstacle for this youngster taking off on waves well overhead and with a vertical attack that had many onlookers asking who she was. Once again the challenging Dunedin surf proved difficult for her fellow finalists.

Piha’s Elliot Paerata-Reid yet again a double finalist caught his first wave which was double overhead from the outside bank allowing the youngster to perform a blazing attack on the wave face that must have had the judges wondering what age group they were watching.  The wave secured Paerata-Reid the events shared highest wave score of 9.25 points. Reid’s total heat score of 15.25 was ten points ahead of his closest opponent.  Paerata-Reid may be a name to watch out for in the future.

Please see below for results from the final day of the Rip Curl GromSearch held at St Clair Beach, Dunedin.

Under 16 Boys Finals
Alex Dive 1
Ben Poulter 2
Johnny Hicks 3
Tane Wallis 4

Under 14 Boys Finals
Tane Wallis 1
Peri Matenga 2
Elliot Paerata-Reid 3
Ben Poulter 4

Under 16 Girls Final
Alexis Poulter 1
Jayda Martin-Fitzharris 2
Rosa Thompson 3
Chloe Shutt 4

Under 14 Girls Final
Jayda Martin-Fitzharris (Gis) 1
Gabriella McCarthy-Marriott (Gis) 2
Alethea Lock (ChCh) 3
Chloe Shutt (Gis) 4

Under 12 Boys Finals
Elliot Paerata Reid (Piha) 1
Jordan Griffin (Mnt) 2
Korbin Hutchings (Gis) 3
Matt Hanson (Mnt) 4
Quin Matenga (Mnt) 5

Upcoming Events
Rip Curl GromSearch 4: Piha – 6th – 7th December

www.ripcurl.com
www.surfingnz.co.nz

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