Ballito surfer Marcello Zedde continues hot streak

Ballito’s Marcello Zedde continued his unbeaten start to the 2023 surfing season, grabbing gold in the second Rip Curl Grom Search event of the year last weekend.

It follows a top finish in the U12 boys section of the first Grom Search meet in Kommetjie and in the iLembe Surf Riders trials last month.

With that momentum behind him, Zedde was the surfer to beat when the groms faced off in Victoria Bay near George.

He did not disappoint, winning his first heat in near-impossible conditions, where he was one of only two surfers to get a wave.

Zedde took second in the semi-final with a 7.94 score, behind fellow North Coast local, Sean Tayler (10.56).

But once the bright lights of the final greeted the surfers, Zedde kicked into gear with his best performance of the weekend, proving a knack for well-timed waves.

His first two waves of 5.83 and 5.17 would be the highest of anyone in the final and he took a comfortable win, more than four points ahead of Valdemar Gwenin (7.93).

Tayler grabbed bronze with a score of 6.17.

Tayler’s older brother, Nathan, would match that achievement when he finished third in the U14 boys section.

All three should be back in action when the series hits KwaZulu-Natal shores, at Scottburgh in April, while Tayler is representing iLembe at the provincial Grommet Games in Durban next weekend.

Zedde will certainly be hoping to add to the trophy cabinet and extend his lead atop the country’s U12 boys rankings list.

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