Wainui groms to fore,Johnson and Smith win open events

YEAR OF THE GROM: Finn Johnson (14) of Wainui lays down a serious hack on his way to winning the open men's divisions in the first Gisborne Boardriders event of the year, held at North Makorori on Saturday. Fellow Wainui 14-year old grom Stella Smith also had success, taking out the open women's division. Picture by Cody Keepa

THIS looks set to be the year of the grom, with two Wainui 14-year-olds taking out the open men’s and women’s divisions of this year’s first Gisborne Boardriders Club event, at North Makorori on Saturday.

Finn Johnson, surfing for Stock Route Mafia (SRM) syndicate in the new Break of Origin format, used speed in testing conditions, a combination of searing forehand carves and vertical backhand fin-throws to win the open men’s division.

“Johnson is a talented surfer but seemed an underdog,” GBC surfing development manager Kelly Ryan said.

“He was the youngest surfer in the open division and was surfing against seasoned men, women and girls, some of whom hold or have held national titles.”

Johnson won every heat on his way to victory in well overhead surf (two to four feet), which was eventually affected by a strong north-east wind by mid-morning.

Josh Colbert (SRM) was looking the standout surfer in earlier rounds but was unable to find the waves in the final to match Johnson.

Stella Smith, 14, won the open women’s division and thus continued her winning run after taking her first national title in the women’s stand-up paddleboarding division at the national championships at Piha this month.

Manawa Ruru, another Wainui 14-year-old surfing for SRM, surfed to a double win, taking out the under-14 and u16 divisions.

“He was easily the fastest surfer of the event — stylish, powerful and rapidly improving,” Ryan said.

Finn Vette displayed flashes of brilliance but, after much deliberation, the majority of judges favoured the speed, power and flow of Ruru’s waves. That meant Ruru edged out his Makorori rival to take the win for SRM.

Cody Keepa, 42, won a hotly contested over-35 division and also placed third in the open.

“He surfed with smooth precision, demonstrating the speed and agility associated with surfers half his age,” Ryan said.

This was the first event for new club president Andrew Vette, who will pick up where Don Pearson left off, representing the club and surfing in the district.

Vette said he was pleased with the turnout and the positive atmosphere the competitors created.

The Break of Origin format — new for 2017 — means all competing surfers nominate themselves to surf for a break they associate with, either geographically or through their surfing education.

SRM has taken pole position after Event 1. The remaining seven contests run through to December.

Saffi and Finn Vette, Finn Johnson and Manawa Ruru will take confidence from their success as they prepare to head north to Mt Maunganui this weekend to contest Event 1 in the Billabong Grom Series.