Surfing: Havelock North Intermediate schoolboy Dale Cromhout hangs tough in pro-league quest

Haumoana surfer Dale Cromhout shows his class in the final of the Oceanbridge-presented Billabong Grom Series at Piha beach, Auckland, at the weekend. Photo/PhotoCPL

Hawke's Bay youngster Dale Cromhout doesn't have to venture far to come to the realisation how surfing is moulding his template even at 11.

That's because Cromhout can catch the sun and surf in the "backyard" of his Haumoana home where he lives with his grandparents, Fay and Francois Sneedon.

"I started surfing since I could walk — since I was about 2," says the first-year Havelock North Intermediate School pupil who finished in fourth place of the under-14 boys' division of the third and final event of the Oceanbridge-presented Billabong Grom Series at Piha Beach, Auckland, last Saturday.

It is Cromhout's maiden series but his incremental accomplishments are becoming an ideal catalyst to fuel his passion for the summer sport.

He missed the opening leg of the series at Mt Maunganui because the family was attending a wedding. He competed in the second leg at Whangamata three weeks ago where he made it to the quarterfinals so the result last weekend was a timely affirmation of his ascendancy in an age-group division where he hopes to secure a national ranking after two years.

At Piha beach, he won his heat, emulated that feat in the quarterfinals and semifinals before finishing fourth among the four finalists.

With inclement weather approaching the West Coast and forecast to hit Piha on Sunday, the event was completed in one day as one-metre waves and light cross-onshore winds punctuated Saturday day at the south end of the beach.

Cromhout's heat included Kalani Louis, of Taranaki, Tana Clapham, of Raglan, and Tai Erceg-Gray, of Whangarei.

Hometown surfer Bill Byers won that boys' age-group category, which had several upsets, as he hopped from fourth place to first overall, leapfrogging second-placed Navryn Malone, of Raglan, who slipped to runner-up position.

Cromhout's grandfather has been taking him out to to surf at Te Awanga and Ocean Beach to hone his skills.

"I love it, I just loved it," says the former Haumoana Primary School pupil whose parents Rose and Gavin Cromhout still live and work in Auckland.

Needless to say Dale Cromhout is mindful that surfing is one the greatest feelings in the world and doesn't need any convincing.

Every week-day morning, before he goes to school, and every afternoon, when he returns, he takes to the foamy waves.

"I want to make it to the Pro world surfing league," says the boy who idolises Ricardo Christie, of Mahia.

Christie won his third-round heat at the final qualifying event, the Vans World Cup at Sunset Beach in Hawaii last December, to regain his full tour card for this year.

The 30-year-old had a year in the pro-elite level in 2015 but couldn't do enough to retain that status.

Hawke's Bay surfer Dale Cromhout finds a proud perch on the podium in the final leg of the Billabong Grom Series at Piha beach, Auckland. Photo/PhotoCPL

So what is the allure of surfing for Cromhout?

"It's just the feeling when you catch the wave, it's so nice," he explains. "When you go out to the surf everyone's just like, 'Go Dale!'."

The member of the Hawke's Bay Board Riders club finished fifth in his age group at the nationals in Taranaki last month.

Last year he was runner-up in his division in a field of 46 at the New Zealand Primary Schools' Surfing Championship staged in Gisborne, finishing behind Teo Maori, of Mt Maunganui.

Cromhout is under the tutelage of Bay club stalwarts Bronson Primmer and Jeremy Evans who run the Hawke's Bay Surf School and have sponsored him with Hustle Surf and Motor in Hastings.

The youngster is into other codes at school. Last year he was crowned the Bay primary school cycling champion after some coaching from Haumoana schoolteacher David Barclay.

"Mr Barclay got me into cycling but surfing's definitely my No 1 [sport]," says Cromhout.

His sporting credentials speaks volumes. He won the HB primary schools' triathlon as part of the year 6 boys' team last year.

He went on to claim the overall, all-round sport skills and fairplay award at Haumoana Primary School as well as securing a scholarship to support cultural and sporting opportunities this year. He also claimed the Wattie-Scott sporting excellence award at primary school last year.

Cromhout is still to receive a $150 award, which Bronwyn Trafford sponsors, from Havelock North Intermediate.

He will compete at the Kaikoura Grom Comp Series on the weekend of April 6-7 next.