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Light
offshore winds with a clean 1 to 1.5 metre swell greeted grommets on the final
day of the Rip Curl Gromsearch at Trigg Beach Western Australia. 
Competitors were more than eager to enter the water with waves,
warm weather, blue skies and the chance to represent WA at the prestigious final
at the infamous Bells Beach all beckoning. In the 16
& under boys division Queenslander Chris Friend wasted no time in setting
up his all too familiar form of racking up manouvre after manouvre and looked
set to win the final, but the West Aussie contingent were not about to let him
have it easily. Towards the later part of the final friend scored an interference
call and lost half the total of his second highest scoring ride. 
As the opportunity unfolded for the rest of the groms, what
was about to follow had everyone biting nails and pulling their hair out. Mat
Baldock (Margaret River), Tod Quartermaine (Mandurah) and Darcy Maynard went into
a furious exchange of waves that had the judges and spectators alike in a head
spin as the grommets matched each other wave for wave in a flurry of on the rail
surfing action that was simply amazing. 
After the spray and foam had settled Baldock had done enough
on the final siren to clinch a berth in the National final at the Ripcurl Pro,
Bells Beach, by just 0.75 of a point. “I’
am sooo stoked. I just can’t believe I’m going. It was a bit of a bummer.
Chris had that interference scored against him, but when you got everyone wanting
the same wave it usually happens. It was great to see him come over for the event
and the rest of the East Coast crew. I just want to thank Ripcurl for bringing
the Gromsearch to WA and I know everyone is just hanging for next year” said
Baldock. 
Felicity Palmateer, who last night was crowned overall Surfing
WA state champion at the annual presentation awards, showed why she is regarded
as the best in WA. The talented goofy footer got off to a slow start in the 16
& under girls final with Kalbarris Erica Trotter catching the better waves
in the early stages to take the lead. Palmateer came into form midway during the
final and never really looked back winning the girls blue ribbon division and
a berth at the national finals to be staged at Bells Beach in conjunction with
the Rip Curl Pro World Championship Tour event during Easter. “I’m
pretty happy with the win, it was hard picking the good ones out there, but a
couple eventually came. I’m pretty much over the moon with the opportunity
to compete at Bells Beach during the Rip Curl Pro and have been told by others
who have been there, that it is an amazing experience. I’m so stoked”,
said Palmateer. In the 14 & under boys division
Margaret River Grom Creed McTaggart did not disappoint. The talented natural footer
posted a 7 and 6.5 point ride to secure first place in the final from New South
Welshman Jake Scollard. Scollard required an 8.00 point scoring ride to take the
lead, but could not match McTaggart's smooth controlled manouvres. “Winning
is always great and the feeling it gives you is hard to explain. Everyone surfed
their best in the final and wave selection definitely played an important part.
It was a fun event and I was glad to be a part of it”, said Mc Taggart.
A lull in the swell saw competitors in the 14 & under
girls final scratching for quality scoring waves. Gracetowns Bronte Macaulay caught
anything that remotely resembled a wave and her tactics paid off. Macaulay snuck
in front of Palmateer by just 0.5 of a point to claim victory. “I
can’t believe I won. I really thought Felicity had beaten me and to have
the surprise of being told you have won is unreal. I would like to thank all the
sponsors and people who put this event on and my Mum and Dad for their constant
support”, said Macaulay. As expected, Jack Robinson
dominated the 12 & under boys final. The nine year old grommet from Margaret
River did not disappoint his supporters and was quick to assert his authority
from the start of the final to the finish with his closest rival Rory Wood from
Mandurah needing a 9.10 point ride to knock Robinson from his perch. Robinson
remained victorious claiming his first Gromsearch title and first big event win.
The Carve Stix rising star of the event award, saw Jake Fawcett
from Geraldton walking away with the latest in skateboard technology for his performance
over the entire event. Jake Kearney (Kalbarri) and
Mickaela Greene (Dunsborough) both scored a six months subscription to renowned
surfing magazine “Waves” for their efforts during the event.
The SNICKERS® Wave of the Day award was won by Shaun Green
from Safety Bay. Grommets were kept busy throughout
the day with heaps of prize give aways and contests to keep every body entertained
including parents and spectators. The most memorable
was the support the kids showed to Movember where older males around the country
are growing Mows (Moustaches) to raise awareness of cancer. The
Groms adorned their faces with Mows drawn on with texta and the laughing stakes
were raised even further as the textas used were permanent ink markers which are
sure to infuse even more laughter when they get back to school tomorrow.
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