FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Friday 11th December 2020: The world-renowned Rip Curl GromSearch series is set to take the Sunshine Coast by storm next week as the final event of the 2020 Australian series arrives in Queensland and will run from the 14th-16th of December.
This is the last of three qualifying events before the finals held at URBNSURF in Melbourne, Victoria in March 2021 with the top three surfers in each division guaranteed a spot in the national final.
The event has attracted Queenslands best junior surfers who are all very excited to surf in what is shaping up to be epic conditions for the event.
QLD Under 16 Champion Matt Boyle (Currumbin) is really looking forward to the event. “I am super happy to be surfing in the Rip Curl GromSearch. It’s such a fun event and it will be so good to get back in the rashie. It looks like we will get some waves and with such great competitors in the comp it should be heaps of fun!
The boys will see rising stars across all divisions including Hunter Andersson (Moffat Beach), Lucas Deffenti (Burleigh Heads), Landen Smales (Peregian Beach), Rico Haybittle (Burleigh Heads), Marlon Harrison (Coolangatta) and Ty Richardson (Palm Beach).
2019 Nationals Final Champion Jahly Stokes (Buddina) is hoping to book her ticket back to the national final. “I was so stoked to win the Rip Curl GromSearch National Final last year and I will be aiming to qualify through again this year. To surf against Australia’s best surfers in the URBNSURF wave pool will make for such a fun competition.”
Other stand out performers from the QLD State Titles who are tackling the Rip Curl GromSearch include Stella Green (Buddina), Pipi Taylor (Peregian Beach), Jordy Halford (Currumbin), Amarnie Barber (Noosa Heads) and Lilliana Bowrey (Noosa Heads).
The 2020 series will culminate with a GromSearch National final at URBNSURF Melbourne in March 2021. Finalists will be determined from the top-ranked surfers out of each of the three events in the series (in their respective divisions). GromSearch organisers will be working with surfing associations from states where events cannot be held, to try and incorporate surfers from each of those states.
More information on individual events, entry dates and procedure, allocations for National final and any other updates to follow.
UPDATED 2020 Rip Curl GromSearch Series dates:
*all dates and locations to be confirmed, pending Covid-19 restrictions and regulations.
Event 1 – Newcastle, NSW – Oct 1-4, 2020.
NEW DATE Event 2 – Jan Juc, VIC – Nov 14-15, 2020.
EVENT 3 – Coolum, Qld – Dec 14-16, 2020.
National Final – URBNSURF, Vic. March, 2021.
DIVISIONS
16 and Under Girls, 14 and Under Girls, 12 and Under Girls.
16 and Under Boys, 14 and Under Boys, 12 and Under Boys.
The GromSearch series provides the opportunity for groms to surf with their friends whilst developing their competitive skills. As participants progress through to the finals they gain valuable experience competing against elite level talent.
The impressive list of previous GromSearch competitors that are currently on the WSL world tour is testament to the quality of the series.
Current WSL World Tour athletes that were GromSearch finalists include;
Tyler Wright*, Steph Gilmore*, Carissa Moore*, Sally Fitgibbons, Malia Manuel, Nikki Van Dijk, Tatiana Weston-Webb, Bronte McCaulay, Caroline Marks, Macy Callaghan, Brisa Hennessy, Isabella Nichols & Bethany Hamilton. (*note: GromSearch competitors have won the last 13 WSL women’s World Titles) (12 of 18 athletes).
Current Men’s WSL World Tour athletes that were GromSearch finalists include;
Gabriel Medina*, Owen Wright, Italo Ferreira*, Jordy Smith*, Kolohe Andino*, Filipe Toledo*, Kanoa Igarashi*, Wade Carmichael, Ryan Callinan, Leonardo Fioravanti, Connor O’Leary, Seth Moniz, Griffin Colapinto & Morgan Cibilic.
(*Note: the top 6 surfers of the final 2019 WSL World Tour rankings are all former GromSearch finalists). 20 of 34 total.
For more information, please visit – www.surfingqueensland.com.au.
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