Getting to the pointy end of the competition at North End, Diggers Beach, the groms were fired up and leaving nothing in the tank. A tricky 3ft south swell mixed with SSW winds made surfers work hard early, but there was still plenty of room for strong combos and big finishes. The low tide brought challenges to start, but as it filled in, conditions improved rapidly. Wave size picked up and the wind started favouring the lefts, helping them stand up and offer more critical sections throughout the afternoon.
In the U18 boys, Will Meyer left it all out there in the dying seconds. Needing a 5.80, he pulled the trigger on a fast left, driving hard through each section and was rewarded with a 6.53 to knock out Jackson Woolnough and book his spot in the quarters.
Locana Cullen (U16 boys) set the tone straight away in the quarters with a 6.93 on his opening wave, before stomping a corked-out backhand air reverse for a 9.17. Carter Crowley went to work on his backhand, showing serious commitment in the pocket and earning two big scores in a 7.37 and a 7.10. Zac Johnston dropped a buzzer-beater 7 with a sharp three-turn combo to eliminate event favourite Rio Luther Barr in one of the day’s biggest upsets.
Come the U16 girls semis, Talia Tebb stayed composed and powerful, carving through tight two-turn combos to post a 13.39 and take out her quarter. She’s shaping up as the surfer to beat. Charlotte Reilly kept her momentum building too, looking sharp and locking in a semifinal berth.
A sharp, composed and full of belief, Harry Stephens lit up the U14 boys quarters, putting together the best heat of his life so far. By locking in a 13.37 heat total with a clean two-turn combination, Harry took out in-form Brynn Spierings. Andy Blanchfield grabbed a wave in the final 30-seconds to edge out Morrison Massey and progress to the semis, with judges rewarding his commitment and smooth backhand flow.
In the U12 boys quarters, Hayden Mee dominated his match-up. Levi Lowe, looking sharp and hungry, showed why he’s on the Rip Curl roster with clean rail work and a huge finish that earned him the win and a spot in the semis. In a gritty, close quarterfinal, Gabriel Kenchington edged out a win with strong backhand surfing. You could feel how much it meant to him and his family. One to watch in the semis. Maverick Macgugan needed a score and delivered a jaw-dropping 9.33, one of the waves of the event, to jump straight to first and lock in his semi-final spot.
Matilda Harrigan (U12 girls), late to the party, dropped a 6.33 on a right-hander with a huge, confident top turn to take the lead and move through to the final.
For all official event updates, continue tracking our Whatsapp channel. The Closing Ceremony will kick-off after the final heat tomorrow at 2.30pm. We’ll drop the location in WhatsApp. If the sun’s out, we’ll hold it on the comp beach.
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📲 Stay updated:
- DON’T MISS A SET – GROMS UNLEASHED – Instagram stories for live coverage
- Daily Albums – DAY 4 FB GALLERY
Finals day is coming in hot. Big energy, big moments. Thankyou for your continued support in the dunes – The Surfing NSW crew.
