Day four was another massive day of competition for groms of the Billabong Oz Grom Cup presented by SmoothStar, particularly for the super groms in the U8 Mixed division who finally had their opportunity to shred the waves.
The event was located at Diggers Beach for a second day with clean two to three foot wedges that saw the competitors giving their all until there was nothing left in the tank. Event officials were gifted with promising conditions to send the younger divisions into the waves in the early hours of this morning with six person showdowns. It was all smiles regardless of the scores for the group of six and seven year olds who collectively caught 50 waves in just 20 minutes.
Coolangatta’s Clay Partridge couldn’t contain his excitement and caught a whopping 11 waves, finishing the majority of them on the sand with both hands in the air cheering in his heat. As a parent assisted division, parents took to the water with their children, offering their support and ocean knowledge to provide ample opportunities for the groms.
Sani Hellman (Ulladulla) stole the show posting a 16.50 total heat score with all fellow competitors in a combination situation. The U8’s mixed division will all surf again tomorrow for finals day where winners will be decided via the leaderboard format.
As the tide dropped out by 1.2 metres at midday, the U16 Females were in the lineup for their semi final heats. Two massive heats with clean four to five foot sets influenced the final scores of these rounds. The semi final’s heat one saw Ocea Curtis (Lennox Head) score two excellent waves, cementing her confidence in the larger conditions. Grace Gosby (Cronulla) also progressed through, landing herself a spot in the final against Ocea.
Alison Hodgson (Kiama Downs) who unfortunately was knocked out of last year’s quarter finals, is certainly on a redemption tour, dominating her heats at this year’s Grom Cup. Alison has secured herself a spot in tomorrow’s U16 Females finals and is shaping up to be a strong competitor to keep an eye on.
Tomorrow will be one action-packed day of competition where winners of each division will be decided.
This event would not have been made possible without the support of Billabong, SmoothStar, Hoey Moey, Coffs Harbour City Council, Club Med, Coffs Harbour Boardriders, Coopers Surf Australia and the local Coffs Harbour community.
