Billabong Grom Series
Presented by Oceanbridge

Surfing New Zealand
Tay Street, Mount Maunganui NZ
5 - 7 February 2010

Finalists Found At Billabong Grom Series

Sixteen of the 24 finalists were found during an action packed day of surfing on day two of the Billabong Grom Series presented by Oceanbridge held at Tay Street Mount Maunganui today (Saturday 6th February). The surf was 0.5m – 1.0m all day with light sea breeze winds making it difficult for the bigger surfers in the event to gain any momentum.

It was the lone South African that continued to dominate the Kiwi’s winning through to the final of the Under 16 Boys Division.

Despite the small swell conditions and being one of the bigger competitors, Lightfoot lived up to his name racing across the waves and busting big aerial manoeuvres to win his two heats.  He will be a major force on the final day with his Kiwi opponents needing something a little special in their finals day performances to put a halt to Lightfoot’s run to victory.

Challenging Lightfoot for the title will be New Zealand representative Adam Grimson (Gis).  Grimson placed second to Lightfoot in the semifinal so would love nothing more than to turn the tables on the South African.  It will be a big ask for the young goofy foot surfer who is yet to win a major title on the Billabong Grom Series.

Dune Kennings (WGM) and Patxi Scott – Arrieta (Sandy Bay) make up the remainder of the final after winning through their semifinal today.

Kennings left it until the dying stages of his heat to score a 6.0 point ride and push him into the lead.  He will go into the final day hoping to make two finals with his Under 14 Division campaign still at the semifinal stage.  Kennings is another surfer who will be after a long-awaited win on the Billabong Grom Series and he has the chance to take a double title to start the year off in fashion.

Scott – Arrieta is another surfer that has looked dominant in all his heats to date surfing with speed and power in the small conditions.

The finalists in the Under 16 Boys will be eager to get a good result with top seeds Tane Wallis (Piha) and Ben Poulter (Rag) already eliminated from the event.  This will make the race for the series title and trip to Australia to compete in the Billabong Occy Grom Comp that much closer.

Top seeds Jayda Martin - Fitzharris (Gis) and Ella Williams were strong in their performances in the Under 16 Girls Division moving through to the final today.  Martin – Fitzharris progressed alongside Alethea lock (Chch) who put in a big performance to make the final over Maiya Thompson (Piha).  In the other semi it was Williams that moved through alongside Gabriella Sansom (Auck).

The youngest of the surfers at the event got their chance to shine late in the afternoon with a bunch of new blood emerging.  Local boy Kehu Butler (Mnt) pulled out all the stops with some big turns on the closeout sections to impress a cheering crowd on the beach.  Butler progressed alongside Tane Bowden (WGM). 

In the second semifinal Manu Scott – Arrieta (Sandy Bay) followed his older brother’s lead and progressed through to the final alongside Taine Craig Te Ranga.  Arrieta will be looking for his first national victory at the event after placing second at every event in 2009.  

The five winners (excludes Under 12 Girls) of the Billabong Series after the three events each win a return flight to the Gold Coast to compete in the Occy Grom Comp.  Winners at each event win a massive package of Billabong gear and a Sony MP3 player.

Please see below for results from day two of the first event of the Billabong Grom Series presented by Oceanbridge held at Tay Street, Mount Maunganui today (Friday 6th February).

Under 16 Boys Quarterfinals
Heat 1 Dylan Lightfoot (Sth Africa), 1, Waretini Wano (Piha), 2, Levi Stewart (Waihi Bch), 3, Elliot Paerata - Reid (Piha), 4