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Talented
NSW surfers Sally Fitzgibbons (Sth Coast NSW/Geroa) and Tom Myers (Freshwater/Nth
Beaches Sydney) today won the 16 and under Girl and Boy divisions of the Rip Curl
GromSearch National Series held at Duranbah Beach on the Gold Coast. 
Their wins secure both surfers the much sought-after qualification
positions into the National GromSearch final to be held at Bells Beach pre Easter
2007, and a good result in that event will qualify them for the World GromSearch
final which runs as a specialty event in conjunction with the World Championship
Tour event, Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach during Easter. 
Fitzgibbons has won just about every possible contest imaginable,
and at 15 she’s amassing an amazing junior record in sport and will go into
the national and international final as the surfer most likely to take out the
crown. Content to win today after her final today, she said: “I
love surfing Bells, it’s a challenging wave and I’ve done well there
in the past so I’m looking forward to the national final for sure. I’ll
just concentrate on that and if I do well then look to the international final.
Good waves at Bells is all I’m hoping for right now!” 
Fifteen year old Tom Myers was elated with his win today in
a very closely fought final against local surfer Kieren Lloyd (Kingscliff). The
lead changed multiple times as both Myers and Lloyd traded good wave scores. “It
was a nerve wracking final as the lead kept changing and I was so relieved when
the siren sounded and I was in front. It was the sort of final where if he caught
the next wave he’d go back into the lead and it was a case of who ever was
in front on the siren!” I can’t wait for the national final at Bells;
it gives me something to really focus on in the next few months!” 
The much anticipated clash between local surfer Thomas
Woods and Beyrick De Vries lived right up to its build up. Both surfers continued
their great form even in the very wind swept waves. Woods managed to find the
longer peeling waves early and made the most of each section performing strong
bottom to top turn combinations that were precise and powerful. He lead throughout
and was never seriously challenged until late in the heat when De Vries moved
from 4th to 2nd place with an excellent aerial move, but with less than a minute
remaining was not in a position to challenge Woods today. 
“We’re great friends from Sth Africa but we’re
also rivals pushing one another. I won today but I’m sure Beyrick will win
some soon, he’s surfing really well.” When
asked about his nickname being “Tiger” Woods, Thomas said “It’s
something that’s happened recently and it’s funny because I’m absolutely
terrible at golf! I’ll definitely stick to surfing!” Other
winners today included Brodie Doyle (Coolangatta) in the 14 and under girls, Joshua
Szele (Warilla/Sth Coast NSW) in the 12 and under Boys and Ellie Jean-Coffey (Crescent
Head) in the 12 and under Girls. Today’s SNICKERS®
wave of the day award went to Joshua Szele for a great 8 point ride in his winning
final! | 
