Surfs up at GromSearch

Phenomenal waves dominated on the opening day of competition at the Rip Curl GromSearch Durban last week.

This is the third event in a four-part series taking place across South Africa, which is presented by Sea Harvest.

There was a great deal of talk about the swell pounding the north and south coasts. With expectations low that the swell would reach the bay, but it was a pleasant surprise to see the waves pouring in through the piers.

Surfing South Africa wasted no time in getting the competition going. Throughout the morning, the waves improved with the draining tide, and there were some great waves for the competitors.

Nate Tayler (Ballito) and Emily Jenkinson (Kommetjie) emerged victorious from the finals of their Premier U16 Girls and Boys Divisions after star performances in their respective final heats.

In the boys category, a huge last-minute clutch aerial move saw Tayler get the nod from the judges and regain the lead he held earlier on in the final from Loghann Tilsley (Strand). Ben Esterhuyse (CT) and Slayde Shooter (Cape St Francis) were third and fourth.

Emily Jenkinson (Kom) was surfing with intent in the Premier U16 Girls Division, but Max Kauffman (Westbrook) was chasing her heels for the win. At the final siren, Jenkinson just staved Kauffman off by just over a point for the win, with Leah Lepront (Scottburgh) and Camilla Heuer (EL) in third and fourth, respectively.

The U18 Division was also intense. Winners were Kai Hall and Scottburgh’s Louise Lepront.

The next event in the Rip Curl GromSearch Series is the final competition, scheduled to take place at Seal Point, Cape St Francis, in September.

Results:
U12 girls
1 Ella van der Made
2 Summer Harding
3 Adriana Canning
4 Lila Prinsloo

U12 boys
1 Ethan Schermbrucker
2 Tom Pearson
3 Jackson Myers
4 Johnjon Clark

U14 girls
1 Coco Clark
2 Ella van der Made
3 Summer Harding
4 Lila Prinsloo

U14 boys
1 Marcello Zedde
2 Ethan Schermbrucker
3 Tyler Balfour
4 Sean Tayler

U18 girls
1 Louise Lepront
2 Emily Jenkinson
3 Keira Fletcher
4 Max Kauffman

U18 boys
1 Kai Hall
2 Loghann Tilsley
3 Nathan Tayler
4 Clayton Turrell

Premier U16 girls
1 Emily Jenkinson
2 Max Kauffman
3 Leah Lepront
4 Camilla Heuer

Premier U16 boys
1 Nathan Tayler
2 Loghann Tilsley
3 Ben Esterhuyse
4 Slayde Shooter

Expression session
Boys Best Air – Xavier van der Merwe
Girls Best Air – Emily Jenkinson
Boys Best Move – Rylan Jarvis
Girls Best Move – Louise Lepront

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