Consistent Vette wins u18 series

SERIES WINNER: Finn Vette won the Pauanui event to clinch the grom series under-18 division. File picture by PhotoCPL

SURFING

FINN Vette has won the under-18 division in tricky Pauanui conditions to finish the Billabong Grom Series in first place.

After finishing second and third in the first two events, the Gisborne surfer’s consistency was rewarded in a nail-biting finale.

In one- to 1.5-metre waves and onshore wind, Vette and Jack Hinton (Mt Maunganui) were both in contention right to the end. Hinton caught a good wave as the hooter sounded but fell just short of Vette’s score, finishing 0.10 of a point behind.

Gisborne’s Asia Braithwaite was unable to find the form in the u16 girls’ division that helped her win the first event of the series.

Going into the final contest, she had a slim lead in the standings. But she was knocked out in the semifinals and overtaken by Mt Maunganui’s Anna Brock.

Vette and Braithwaite have earned qualification into the New Zealand Grom Series Finals at Piha in May for the top 16 boys and eight girls in the u18 and u16 divisions.

Gabe Lobb and Ollie Tong both had a tough day in the u14 boys’ division. Tong was eliminated in his second-round heat, and Lobb was unable to make it through his quarterfinal.

The u16 boys’ series winner, Navryn Malone, has Gisborne connections. His father Chris, 1998 open men’s national champion, is from Gisborne. Navryn Malone clinched the grom series victory by winning his division of the Pauanui event.