Super Young Surfers posting Massive scores on Day 2 at the Billabong Occy Grom Comp
Occy Grom Comp
Surfing Australia
Burleigh Heads, Queensland
4 July 2009
An exciting day of surfing at the Billabong Occy Grom Comp on day 2 at Duranbah Beach with some amazing displays by relatively unknown emerging young surfers.
The international surfers are always a bit of a mystery coming into the event and 11 year old Californian Huntington Beach surfer Kanoa Igarahi quickly caught everyone’s attention today with possibly the most impressive heat ever seen in the 12 year division of this prestigious event.
Kanoa waited until mid heat to reveal his true style when he unleashed on three consecutive waves scoring 9.33, 9.77 and finally a 9.90 to take a massive round two heat win and he has put all of Australia’s top 12 year and under surfers on notice that he is the guy to beat in this division!
After his win Kanoa told us a little about his background saying “ I’ve been surfing since I was three years old and last year I placed 3rd in the USA 12 and under division. “This is my second trip to Australia but the first time I’ve competed and I love the waves here. Surfing against Australia’s best is really good for me because there’s so many great surfers here and I’m keen to do as well as I can in this event.”
With sponsor stickers all over the deck of his tiny surfboard Kanoa has clearly been identified as a young talent in the USA and as this division heads into the finals in the coming days there is much anticipation on the looming showdowns with exciting Australians Jack Robinson (Western Australia), Kai Hing (Qld/Sunshine Coast) and Jackson Baker (Newcastle/NSW).
Robinson, Hing and Baker all scored outstanding 9 point rides in their convincing heat wins with impressive heat tally’s on their top two scoring rides out of a possible 20 of 17.94, 16.83 and 16.50 respectively, however they were outgunned today with Igarahi’s near perfect 19.67.
Just hours after celebrating both his 21st birthday and American Independence Day (both on 4 July), Tanner Gudauskas (California, USA) celebrated the biggest victory of his professional surfing career, taking out the ASP WQS 6-Star Mr Price Pro Ballito, today.
Gudauskas defeated Australian James Taipan Wood (Aus) rocketing to World No. 6 on the ASP World Qualifying Series and pocketing R159 000 (US$20 000) as well as 2500 ASP WQS ratings points.
“I just can’t believe it, this is a personal best for me!” said Gudauskas. “Every night this week I’ve been going to bed dreaming about winning this contest and putting myself up there where Pat (Tanner’s brother and WQS No. 10 Patrick Gudauskas) was at, and it came through today so I’m fired up!”
Attacking the 30-minute final with unprecedented determination, Gudauskas rode every lump of swell, snatching an early heat lead with a 6.83 (out of 10.00) for some clean backhand turns, riding out in an explosion of whitewater off his final maneuver.
While his opponent Wood opted to play the patience game catching his first wave at the 11 minute mark, Gudauskas projected fast out of his top turns, maintaining speed and power in the wind affected waves to score a 6.67 and further extend his lead over the Australian, who was left looking for a 7.67.
read full article at surfingaustralia
Jul5
NSW Open Surfmasters Titles
Locals revel at the NSW Open Surfmasters Titles
Surfing NSW
Werri Beach and Bombo, NSW
4 July 2009
Werri Beach and Bombo, NSW – Five prestigious NSW Open Surfmasters Titles were awarded today in excellent conditions on the NSW South Coast, as local competitors revelled.
Greeted with a marked increase in swell overnight, the usual crew of weather beaten, salt encrusted, sand blasted, elder statesmen and women were on hand today after a lay-day was called yesterday due to poor conditions.
With the best 200 age surfers congregating at two contest locations (Werri Beach and Bombo), to make up for lost time yesterday, five champions were decided and precious places at the Country Energy Australian Surf Festival on the line.
While their competitive still burns as strong as ever, what transpired was some high-quality surfing.
Local stalwart and Illawarra surfing luminary Terry Richardson (East Corrimal, NSW) was on-fire, returning back to the dais, after a seven year hiatus, claiming the over 50 Men’s division.
Having tasted success as the ISA World Masters Champion in 1997 and 2003 after a successful competitive career on the ASP World Tour during the eighties, Richardson wound back the clock today with an emphatic victory.
