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South African surfer Dylan Lightfoot came and conquered at the first event of the Billabong Grom Series presented by Oceanbridge today. The lone South African contesting the event won the premier Under 16 Boys Division. Gisborne surfer Jayda Martin Fitzharris took out the girls equivalent to defend her title from 2009.
The surf at Tay Street Mount Maunganui remained small albeit clean for the final day of the event with 0.5m – 0.75m waves. The sea breeze held off for the finals with light winds having little effect on the waves.
Lightfoot, along with his family, has been in the country for four weeks surfing breaks around New Zealand and also competing at the World Junior Championships in January. He added this contest to his travels and from day one of the event became the favourite and one to beat.
In the final today Lightfoot struggled in the small conditions racking up low scores in the shore pound. However, late in the heat he finally latched on to a wave that ran down the beach. He proceeded to hit the lip several times until he finished on the beach. The score came out as an 8.5 point ride (out of a possible 10) and that was enough to catapult him from third in to first with a 13.0 point heat total.
“I struggled out there today. I am much bigger than Kiwi boys” commented Lightfoot in a thick South African accent. “They were flying across the waves doing all these turns. I was just lucky to get that one wave and get a good score to push me into the lead” added Lightfoot who will also take in the second leg of the Billabong Grom Series presented by Oceanbridge which takes place at Whangamata next weekend (12-14 February).
Placing second in the final was Adam Grimson (Gis) who opted to surf up the beach by himself. The tactical move paid off for 20 minutes of the final after catching some long lefthanders but he couldn’t match the power of Lightfoot and had to settle for second. Dual finalist Dune Kennings (WGM) finished third after a close battle with Grimson but was also unable to surf with enough power to taker the victory. Sandy Bay surfer Patxi Scott – Arrieta finished the final in fourth place.
Under 16 Boys Final
Dylan Lightfoot (Sth Africa), 1, Adam Grimson (Gis), 2, Dune Kennings (Whmata), 3, Patxi Scott-Arietta (Sandy Bay), 4
Under 14 Boys Final
Jordan Griffin (Mnt), 1, Dune Kennings (Whmata), 2, Mahorahora McLeod (Tara), 3, Te Rapai Barbarich Love (Tara), 4
Under 14 Boys Semifinals
Heat 1 Dune Kennings (Whmata), 1, Jordan Griffin (Mnt), 2, Elliot Paerata - Reid (Piha), 3, Quinn Matenga (Mnt), 4
Heat 2 Mahorahora McLeod (Tara), 1, Te Rapai Barbarich Love (Tara), 2, Toa MacDonald (Tara), 3, Korbin Hutchings (Gis), 4
Under 12 Boys Final
Manu Scott Arrieta (Sandy Bay), 1, Taine Craig Te Ranga (Waihi Beach), 2, Tane Bowden (WGM), 3, Kehu Butler (Mnt), 4
Under 16 Girls Final
Jayda Martin – Fitzharris (Gis), 1, Gabriela Sansom (Auck), 2, Ella Williams (WGM), 3, Alethea Lock (Chch), 4
Under 14 Girls Final
Gabriela Sansom (Auck), 1, Dayna Story (Gis), 2, Bianca Sansom (Auck), 3, Claudia Fraser (Piha), 4
Under 14 Girls Semifinals
Heat 1 Gabriela Sansom (Auck), 1, Claudia Fraser (Piha), 2, Milly Crewe (Muri), 3
Heat 2 Bianca Sansom (Auck), 1, Dayna Story (Gis), 2, Britt Kindred (Muri), 3
Under 12 Girls Final
Milly Crewe (Mur), 1, Britt Kindred (Mur), 2, Paige Penny (Gis), 3, Lily Spiers (WGM), 4
Surfing New Zealand are proudly partnered by Corona, Hyundai, SPARC & Smokefree.
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