LENNOX HEAD BEACH (Sunday, 9 July 2023): Some of the nation’s best pro junior surfers hit the water today at the 2023 Skullcandy Oz Grom Open pres. by Vissla as they sought to earn valuable ratings points on the WSL Australasia Junior Qualifying Series rankings.
Bohdie Williams (Lennox Head, NSW) showed his local nous in the Boys division as he found a handful of diamonds in the rough. Williams executed a series of carves and re-entries in the tiny surf to finish the heat with a giant 15.00 two-wave heat total, the highest of the Mens Pro Junior division so far.
“My gameplan was to start with the inside, get as quick of a start as I could and stay away from everyone when I didn’t have priority,” said Williams. “The surf was quite gutless, so I knew I had to get much speed as I could in order to do turns that would result in decent scores. I’ve been living in Lennox Head for around two or three years now, so it would be pretty cool to win my first Pro Junior in front of all the locals here.”
Zyah Hession (Coolangatta, Qld) and Xavier Bryce (Long Reef, NSW) both put on an impressive performance in the small conditions, with both surfers notching up heat totals in excess of 14.00 points.
All previously mentioned surfers have booked their spot into the round of 32.
Sierra Kerr (Coolangatta, Qld) showed why she is considered one of surfing’s brights young stars as she made light work in her opening female heat. Kerr opted to sit wide of her fellow competitors and as a result managed to execute a series of giant fins free manoeuvres to take an impressive victory with a decent 15.43 two-wave heat total.
“The surf was definitely grindy out there, but if you got the right wave that allowed you to get some speed, then it could be pretty fun,” said Kerr. “I kept my eyes on that wide bank as I knew there was a chance I might get it to myself and get some waves to myself. I’m glad the tactic worked.”
Ruby Berry continued to impress in the female round heat as she posted a solid 7.43 wave score to gain the upperhand against her closest rivals.
All other results can be seen here.
The six-day event will run from 6 July –11 July 2023 and will comprise of a World Surf League (WSL) sanctioned Pro Junior Qualifying Series (JQS) event as well as an elite competition for promising grommets in the 14, 16 and 18-year age divisions.
In a similar vein to preceding years – where the event has attracted surfers from ten different countries – a full international field is again expected in 2023 with surfers coming from as far away as Europe, USA, Hawaii, Indonesia and Japan to make up a field of more than 270 surfers across all divisions.
A five-person judging panel comprised of current WSL Championship Tour and Qualifying Series judges will be on-site as well as a live webcast that collectively sets this event above any other junior competition in the world.
Former event competitors include a range of current and former World Championship Tour such as, Molly Picklum, Mikey, Owen and Tyler Wright, Jack Robinson, reigning World Junior Champion Jarvis Earle and local surfers Mikey McDonagh and Nyxie Ryan.
The event will get underway by 7.30am each day.
Daily press packages will be sent out over the course of the event.
All event divisions will be broadcast live worldwide on skullcandyozgromopen.com.au from Friday, 7th July, 2023
For more information on the event, please contact info@surfingnsw.com.au or call (02) 9093 6035
