Rip Curl GromSearch
Presented by Snickers

Surfing New South Wales
Coffs Harbour NSW Australia
3 - 6 October 2008

Bain and Campbell clean up at the Rip Curl GromSearch in Coffs Harbour

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 6 October, 2008 : - - Macauley’s Beach, NSW - With the cream of the Australian junior talent pool on hand at Macauley’s Beach today it was Billy Bain (Avalon, NSW) and Rachel Campbell (Stanwell Park, NSW) who rose to the top, at the Rip Curl GromSearch presented by SNICKERS.

In conditions that resembled the Loch Ness, with low-lying, misty fog permeating the contest area, finals day of the Rip Curl GromSearch presented by SNICKERS was of the highest order. In the blue ribbon events, the 16 years and under division, Bain and Campbell were unstoppable, taking home precious ratings points, awesome prizes and the crown.

“I’m so stoked,” Bain said after defeating Thomas Woods (Coolangatta, QLD), Nikolas Hoskin (Lennox Head, NSW) and Max Weston (Avalon, NSW) in a tightly contested final. “This is easily the best result I’ve had this year – to win is awesome.”

With the winner of every 16 years and under event across the of the Rip Curl GromSearch Series receiving a guaranteed place in the National Finals at Bells Beach, Bain and Campbell will now compete during the prestigious ASP World Tour event - the Rip Curl Pro. "I was down there last year as a spectator and was pretty envious of the guys who got to surf before the Rip Curl Pro,” Bain admitted.

“It’s going to be so good to be rubbing shoulders with the best surfers in the world. I can’t wait,” he said. For Rachel Campbell just making the final was a massive bonus for her fledging surfing career, but to win was beyond her expectations. “I can’t believe I won – I’m over the moon,” she said. “I wasn’t even thinking about winning this event, I just wanted to compete as best I could against all the other girls.”

Billy Bain © Michael Tyrpenou / Surfing Australia

In what was a coup for the future of female surfing in Australia, the 16 years and under Girls final was an awesome display. Defeating fellow Illawarra surfer Skye Burgess (Lake Heights, NSW), Ellie-Jean Coffey (Crescent Head, NSW) and Pheobe Miley-Dyer (Bronte, NSW), who finished second, third and fourth respectively, Campbell was awestruck when told she would be competing at the iconic Bells Beach.

“I just found out,” she said. “I’m so unbelievably stoked that I get to go down to Bells - it’s like a dream come true.”

Soli Bailey (Suffolk Park, NSW) took out the 14 years and under division, whilst Ellie-Jean Coffey won her second straight event in the 14 years and under Girls division. owever the performance of the entire event came from 12 years and under champion Jackson Baker (Merewether, NSW) who accumulated the highest heat and single wave score’s of the event in the final with an awesome display.

Holly Wawn (Newport, NSW) was crowned the champion of the 12 years and under Girls division. Jake Cumberland and Kirstin Ogden were awarded the Waves Rising Star award, whilst Jack Germain, Brodie Doyle and Mitchell James all received the Skull Candy Best and Fairest award.

The Rip Curl GromSearch series travels to next to Western Australia, giving young hopefuls a chance to surf in their own backyards in an effort to make their way to the National Finals at Bells Beach. For full results and all information be sure to log onto www.ripcurl.com and www.surfingaustralia.com.

The Rip Curl GromSearch series is proudly presented by SNICKERS in association with Waves Magazine, Fuel TV, Surfing Australia and Surfing NSW.

2008/2009 RIP CURL GROMSEARCH SERIES DATES
Vic Jan Juc Sept 23-26, 2008
NSW Coffs Harbour Oct 3-6, 2008
WA Mandurah Oct 11-12, 2008
Tas Clifton Oct 25-26, 2008
SA Middleton Nov 22-23, 2008
Qld Gold Coast Dec 15-19, 2008
NSW Cronulla Jan 17-20, 2009

National Final Bells April 6, 2009
International Final Bells April 9-14, 2009

Previous reports:
# 1 : Groms go off at Rip Curl GromSearch at Coffs Harbour
# 2 : Stephanie Gilmore drops in on the Rip Curl GromSearch
# 3 : Coming soon
# 4 : Coming soon  

www.ripcurl.com
www.surfingaustralia.com

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Surfing NSW Media Manager
Michael Tyrpenou
michaelt@surfingnsw.com.au

Rip Curl Public Relations
Marine Cole
mcole@ripcurl.com.au

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