Day three of the 2022 Skullcandy Oz Grom Open presented by Vissla was blessed with idyllic conditions for the third day in row as all age divisions edged closer to the finals.
Kash Brown (Cronulla, NSW) and Rico Haybittle (Burleigh, Qld) both engaged in one of the most exciting heats of the event so far, both nailing a beautiful combination of mammoth carves and critical snaps, which resulted in respective 17.07 and 15.34 two-wave heat totals. Both Brown and Haybittle went toe-to-toe in their round three 16 Boys heat, exchanging some of the biggest turns seen all event and as a result, eliminated local and recent Occy Grom Comp runner-up Keenan Crisp from the competition.
Following his highlight-reel performance from yesterday, Under-16 Boys standout Fletcher Kelleher (Manly, NSW) continued to amaze the judges with his lightning-fast backhand attack. Fletcher was able to amass a solid 16.83 two-wave heat total to claim the win and earn his spot into the quarterfinals.
Sunshine Coast duo Coco Cairns and Jahly Stokes both continued to mow through the Under-18 Girls division with both ladies taking wins in their quarterfinals. Both surfers posted heat totals in excess of 12.00 to take their respective heats, while Lucy Brown (Newport, NSW) claimed the final quarterfinal exchange.
Local surfer Harry O’Brien (Lennox Head), provided one of the biggest upsets of the event so far, eliminating current ISA World Junior Champion Willis Droomer (Jan Juc, Vic) from the event in the quarterfinals of the Under-18 Boys. O’Brien used his knowledge of the shifting beach break peaks to pick off a multitude of long right-handers which were rewarded with a respectable 12.34 two-wave total. O’Brien progressed through the heat with Eden Hasson (Newcastle, NSW) who finished in the runner-up position.
The full event running schedule can be found here.
The six-day event will run from 7 July –12 July 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 Under 14, 16 and 18 divisions.
It is anticipated that the event will get underway by 7.30 am each day
Daily press packages will be sent out over the course of the event.
The 2022 Skullcandy Oz Grom Open presented by Vissla is proudly supported by Skullcandy, Vissla, Ballina Shire Council, Le-Ba Boardriders, WSL and Surfing NSW.
