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This weekend sees the Rip Curl GromSearch take place at Piha Beach, Auckland. The event is attracting the top school age surfers from around the country as they wind down their long year of school with a big weekend of high performance surfing for final 2010 honours.
The amazing run of weather and waves looks set to continue into the weekend with good waves forecast to hit Piha Beach.
The surf conditions will bring the top surfers to the fore in an event that is renowned for unearthing the countries best talent. Surfers who have progressed through the Rip Curl GromSearch include Richard Christie (Gis), Matt Hewitt (Mnt), Alex Dive (Mnt), Morehu Roberts (Gis), Tim O'Connor (Mnt), Paige Hareb (Tara) and Airini Mason (Gis/Aus), all top performers on the national and international stage.
The 2010 event will play out as a winner-takes-all scenario that will see this weekend's top Under 16 boy and girl gain direct entry into the Rip Curl GromSearch international final. The international final is held in conjunction with the Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach, Victoria, Australia. The event is one of the most legendary on the Australian sporting calendar.
The 2009 event and overall New Zealand Rip Curl GromSearch champion, Tane Wallis (Piha), will be out to contest his last event at this age group. The seasoned campaigner has been contesting these events for an unbelievable seven years. A win would be a fitting end to his junior career which will ultimately be played out in his own backyard at the south end of Piha.
Wallis will go into the final event as one of the favourites despite his current ranking of eighth after missing one event due to injury. Alongside him will be Ben Poulter (Rag), another stalwart of the grommet events that have taken place around the country.
However, the top two surfers have been getting shaken up by a troop of young up and coming grommets who are starting to steal victories from under their 'elders' noses. Thanks to Kiwi Surf Magazine.
Elliot Paerata - Reid (Piha) is one surfer who has been victorious this year and he went on to represent New Zealand at an international event in France. Paerata - Reid is another Piha surfer that will be keen to stamp his mark on 2010 with one final classy showing before the new year of events kicks off in early January.
"I definitely want to win the Under 14s this weekend and also do well in the Under 16s with a final at least or a win would be nice" said Paerata - Reid. "I was feeling real confident the last few weeks but I have snapped two boards in the last three days so I am on some old equipment. Hopefully I can get a new board before the comp" added Paerata - Reid.
To make the Under 16 final and win is certainly on Paerata - Reid's radar and he thinks it would be a "huge experience" to compete at another international event. "It would be cool to meet up with some of the guys I made friends with in France and also to surf another world class wave like Bells Beach, it would be awesome."
Other groms that will be hunting down what would be a career best result are Adam Grimson (Gis), Sean Kettle (Tara), Dune Kennings (WGM), Peri Matenga (Mnt), Waretini Wano (Piha), Patxi Scott - Arrieta (Sandy Bay) and Paul Moretti (Mimiwhangata).
The girls will be fighting it out for their own trip to Australia. Front runners include current number one and two on the ratings Ella Williams (WGM) and Jayda Martin - Fitzharris (Gis). Neither surfer has had the chance to represent New Zealand at the Bells Beach international final but they are both odds-on to claim the trip in 2010.
Williams was a finalist at the Piha event in 2009 placing fourth and will want to improve on that result and retain her top ranking for 2010.
The weekend's action also includes four additional divisions being Under 14 and 12 for both boys and girls.
The younger divisions continue to be the breeding ground for the next generation of surfers. At this stage they challenge each other in their own respective divisions with the likes of Korbin Hutchings (Gis), Manu Scott - Arrieta (Sandy Bay), Kehu Butler (Mnt), Te Rapai Barbarich - Love (Tara), the Sansom twins and Milly Crewe (Muri) all eager to get one up on their mates from around the country.
No one walks away from the Rip Curl GromSearch empty handed, every competitor receives a goodie bag packed with giveaways from sponsors. Along with this Rip Curl will be putting up massive prize pools for each and every division.
New Zealand's leading radio station 'The Edge' will be amongst the action at this year's GromSearch. The Edge's Road Runners will be bringing the party to the event running live promotions and spectator giveaways over both days of competition.
All grommets will be able to test drive the latest Shaun White skating game that has been released for the Playstation and Xbox gaming consoles.
Please see below for the current top five rated surfers on the Surfing New Zealand Grommet Series. For full ratings please go to the website of Surfing New Zealand.
Under 16 Boys
1, Ben Poulter (Rag)
2, Adam Grimson (Gis)
3, Patxi Scott-Arietta (Sandy Bay)
4, Elliot Paerata - Reid (Piha)
5, Waretini Wano (Piha)
Under 14 Boys
1, Dune Kennings (Whmata)
2, Korbin Hutchings (Gis)
3, Elliot Paerata-Reid (Piha)
4, Jordan Griffin (Mnt)
5, Manu Scott-Arrieta (Sandy Bay)
Under 12 Boys
1, Manu Scott-Arrieta (Sandy Bay)
2, Taine Craig Ranga (Waihi Bch)
3, Kehu Butler (Arataki)
4, Isaac Kettle (Tara)
5, Travis Morton (Waihi Bch)
Under 16 Girls
1, Ella Williams (Whmata)
2, Jayda Martin-Fitzharris (Gis)
3, Gabriela Sansom (Auck)
4, Bianca Sansom (Auck)
5, Hannah Kohn (Gis)
Under 14 Girls
1, Gabriela Sansom (Auck)
2, Dayna Story (Gis)
3, Hannah Kohn (Gis)
4=, Bianca Sansom (Auck)
4=, Milly Crewe (Muri)
Under 12 Girls
1, Milly Crewe (Muri)
2, Britt Kindred (Muri)
3, Lily Spiers (Whmata)
4, Sarah Wilson
5, Paige Penny (Gis)
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