Rip Curl Gromsearch South African Grand Final  
Presented by Island Tribe

Surfing South Africa
Southbroom KwaZulu-Natal
1 - 2 November 2008

Beyrick de Vries and Sarah Baum earn international invitations in Rip Curl Gromsearch Grand Final

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 2 November, 2008 : - - Beyrick de Vries and Sarah Baum clinched the coveted invitations to the International Finals of the Rip Curl Gromsearch in Australia next Easter when they won their respective boys and girls’ titles in the premier 16-and-under division of the South African Grand Finals of the 2008 Rip Curl Gromsearch series presented by Island Tribe at Southbroom on Sunday.

It was the second consecutive SA Grand Final victory for Baum, 14, from Athlone Park south of Durban, who placed third amongst her peers from around the globe at Bells Beach in Australia during the Easter event this year.

De Vries will be attending his first Gromsearch International Finals, an event won by South Africa’s Dale Staples earlier this year, although the 15 year-old rising surf star from Umhlanga has already posted several excellent contest results in Australia on previous visits. Both Baum and de Vries will also be given wings to participate in Australia with their air tickets provided by Red Bull

In solid one to 1.5 metre offshore surf that tested the young competitors’ ability but improved as the final day wore on, de Vries made best use of the right-breaking waves pouring down the Southbroom point to defeat Kommetjie’s Davey Brand in the U16 boys’ final.

De Vries pocketed R2 000 from the R13 500 event prize-purse for his 12.75 to 9.50 point victory after he had overcome another goofy-foot (rides with right foot forward) surfer in JC Susan (Melkbosstrand) in their semifinal encounter. Brand got the better of fellow Kommetjie resident Michael February in their semi with a great display of backhand riding.

Baum reversed her Round 2 runner-up finish behind Bianca Buitendag (George) to defeat her SA national junior surfing teammate in the semis and reach the U16 girls’ final. Tanika Hoffman bested fellow Kommetjie surfer and Rip Curl team rider Holly Armstrong in their semi but could not match Baum’s backhand attack in the closely fought finale.

Baum did the double by also grabbing the U14 girls’ title in a low-scoring four person final where she finished ahead of Caryn MacNicol (Scottburgh), Emma Smith (East London) and Chanelle Botha (Warner Beach). Kommetjie surfers dominated the U14 boys’ division with Benji Brand taking the win over Jarred Veldhuis after beating Dylan Lightfoot (Jeffreys Bay) in the semis. Veldhuis reached the final via his win over Rip Curl team rider Max Armstrong.

Armstrong made amends in the U12 boys’ division, making his sponsors happy by winning the four man final ahead of Brand, Jason JJ Harris (Scottburgh) and Dylan Wichmann (Marina da Gama), who finished in that order.

The Rip Curl Gromsearch series is presented by Island Tribe whose superior sunscreen products are given to all contestants to educate them on the importance of skincare and damage that can be done by the sun.

Rip Curl Gromsearch presented by Island Tribe SA Grand Final Results 

U/16 Boys
1.  Beyrick de Vries (Umhlanga)                             R2 000
2.  Davey Brand (Kommetjie)                                  R1 000
=3.  Michael February (Kommetjie)                         R   500
=3.  JC Susan (Melkbosstrand)                              R   500

U/14 Boys
1.  Benji Brand (Kommetjie)                                    R1 600
2.  Jarred Veldhuis (Kommetjie)                             R   800
=3.  Max Armstrong (Kommetjie)                            R   300
=3.  Dylan Lightfoot (Jeffreys Bay)                        R   300

U/12 Boys
1.  Max Armstrong (Kommetjie)                              R1 000
2.  Benji Brand (Kommetjie)                                    R   600
3.  Jason JJ Harris (Scottburgh)                            R   300
4.  Dylan Wichmann (Marina da Gama)                  R   100

U/16 Girls
1.  Sarah Baum (Athlone Park)                               R1 000
2.  Tanika Hoffman (Kommetjie)                              R   600
=3.  Holly Armstrong (Kommetjie)                            R   300
-3.  Bianca Buitendag (George)                              R   100

U/14 Girls
1.  Sarah Baum (Athlone Park)                                R800
2.  Caryn MacNicol (Scottburgh)                             R400
3.  Emma Smith (East London)                                 R200
4.  Chanelle Botha (Warner Beach)                         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 were:

GROMSEARCH # 1 : DAIRY,DBN : JUNE 21&22 - Completed
GROMSEARCH # 2 : MOSSEL BAY : SEPT 6&7 - Completed
GROMSEARCH # 3 : CAPE TOWN : SEP 27&28 - Completed
GROMSEARCH FINAL : SOUTHBROOM, KZN : NOV 1&2 - Completed

www.ripcurl.com
www.surfingsouthafrica.co.za

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