Local groms take it to Mount contest

FROTH FEST: Kerikeri's Joe Palmer contesting the under-20 boys division of the Billabong Grom Series in mushy conditions at Mount Maunganui on Sunday. PICTURE/INTHEDRINK

While the local surf scene was conspicuous by its absence at the recent nationals in Dunedin, two Far North surfers were in action at the first event of the Billabong Grom Series at Mount Maunganui last weekend.

The best result came from Kerikeri's Joe Palmer in making the semi finals of the under-20 boys division. On the first day, Saturday, in conditions described as perfect for the grommets, Palmer and Tauranga's Callum Chuter both posted 16 point totals to progress from their quarter-final heats.

The event report singled out both goofy-footers, noting the pair took a liking to the lefthand rip bowl in front of the competition site, "hitting clean lips and flying across fast sections through to the inside shore dump ..." Both Palmer and Chuter missed the national championships in Dunedin earlier this month so were likely looking to make up for their absence at that event."

Also from Northland, New Zealand representative Manu Scott-Arrieta (Sandy Bay) was also in the U20 division. He and Palmer were eventually eliminated in the same semi final heat in deteriorating conditions on Sunday; the pair eventually placing third and fourth respectively behind Chuter and Tauranga's Andrew Fraser-MacKenzie who went on to claim the U20 title on home surf.

Also representing the Far North at the Oceanbridge-presented youth series was Kaitaia's Taj Broughton albeit he was unable to progress from his first heat in the under-14 boys division.

Saturday produced clean 1m waves at Tay Street, with light variable winds in the morning and offshores in the afternoon.

Conditions deteriorated significantly on the Sunday as the event was wrapped up in small waves of less than 1m and onshores.

Another highlight saw 40 young girls taking part in the Billabong Girls Get Out There Day surf and yoga lessons with coaches and a guest appearance from Jamie McDell on the Saturday.

Overall winners were: U14, boys: Finn Johnson (Gis), girls: Stella Smith (Gis); U17, boys: Jonas Tawharu (Mnt), girls: Raiha Ensor (Mnt), U20, boys: Andrew Fraser-MacKenzie (Tau), girls: Gabriella Sansom (Auck).

The remaining two legs in the 2016 Billabong Grom Series are at Whangamata from February 13-14, and Piha from March 5-6.