Rip Curl GromSearch Wraps Up In South Australia

Yorke Peninsula, South Australia (Wednesday, Nov 16, 2016) – The fourth stop of the Rip Curl GromSearch presented by Flight Centre has just wrapped up in South Australia, and six new champions have been. The ocean offered up some testing onshore conditions at the two-day event on the Yorke Peninsula, but competitors faced the winds and swell head-on and managed to pull off some stellar performances.

Darcy De Clouett took the 16 & Under Boys division in a closely fought battle with Adam Varvaressos, who placed second, as well as Tully Wylie and Xavier Huxtable, who placed third and fourth. “Stoked to have taken the event win,” said Darcy, post-event. “It was tough out there!”

The 16 & Under Girls went to Sophia Fulton, with a dominant display against second-place winner Sophie Fletcher, third-place winner Bohdi Leigh-Jones and fourth-placed Laticia Josephson.

In the 14 and Under Boys division Jamie Thompson dominated throughout the event, eventually taking the win in an extremely close battle against Taj Stokes, who placed second. Tom Golby-Smith placed third and Arch Whiteman took fourth. “This is my second trip to the Yorke Peninsula,” said Jamie. “Our family loves coming here, and it was awesome to take the win.”

Emma Cattlin took the 14 and Under Girls, claiming back-to-back victories after her win in Western Australia during the third stop of the  Rip Curl GromSearch. Charlie Hurst placed second, Poppy Corbett placed third and Arabella Wilson came in fourth. Emma had been surfing outstandingly throughout the contest with some amazing backhand vertical snaps in the earlier rounds and in the final.

The 12 and Under Boys division win went to Ethan Huxtable, who was another event standout. Winter Vincent came in second, Zeb Stokes third and Zeph Lampard placing fourth.

Poppy Corbett took out the 12 and Under Girls title. Placing second was Imogen Elliot, third Lucy Tandler and fourth Sarah Hutchinson

Finn Hill and Xavier Huxtable took the “Flight Centre Outstanding Performance Awards” for their amazing surfing throughout the entirety of the event. “Rising Star Awards” went to Grace Knight and Imogen Elliot.

The Rip Curl GromSearch series started in 1999 as a one-day event at Jan Juc beach in Victoria. Since then it has developed into the strongest international series for 16-year and under surfers in the world. With parallel Rip Curl GromSearch series in over 10 countries, it has become a crucial stepping-stone in the development of elite junior surfers.

Surfers competing in South Australia are chasing all important points, which count towards the National GromSearch ratings system, allowing surfers from around Australia to compare their results with contemporaries. Leaders on the National Ratings will qualify for the last event of the series, the Rip Curl GromSearch National Final, to be held at North Narrabeen, NSW on January 16-18, 2017.

The list of previous GromSearch competitors highlights the elite level of competitors that make up the Rip Curl GromSearch series. Current WSL World Tour surfers who have competed in the Rip Curl GromSearch include Matt Wilkinson (Australia), Gabriel Medina (Brazil), Kolohe Andino (USA), Felipe Toledo (Brazil), Jordy Smith (South Africa), and Nat Young (USA). Not to mention the elite female surfers like Tyler Wright (Australia), Stephanie Gilmore (Australia), Malia Manuel (USA), Sally Fitzgibbons (Australia), Nikki Van Dijk (Australia), and Tatiana Weston-Webb (Hawaii).

Visit Www.Ripcurl.Com.Au for all GromSearch info, updates, images and video content. For event information be sure to check out Www.Surfingwa.Com.Au

RIP CURL GROMSEARCH - SA FINAL RESULTS:

16 & Under Boys:

1 – Darcy De Clouett (WA) - 11.93pts

2 – Adam Varveressos (NSW) - 10.07pts 

3 – Tully Wylie (VIC) – 10.00 pts

4 – Xavier Huxtable (VIC) – 9.93pts

16 & Under Girls:

1 – Sophia Fulton (NSW) - 14.06pts

2 – Sophia Fletcher (VIC) - 11.43pts

3 – Bodhi Leigh-Jones (NSW) - 8.63pts

4 – Laticia Josephson (QLD) - 7.03pts
 

14 & Under Boys:

1 – Jamie Thompson (NSW) - 14.90pts 

2 – Taj Stokes (QLD) - 14.73pts

3 – Tom Golby-Smith (NSW) -12.43pts

4 – Arch Whiteman (NSW) - 9.43pts

14 & Under Girls:

1 – Emma Cattlin (WA) - 12.83pts

2 – Charlie Hurst (NSW) - 9.93pts

3 – Poppy Corbet (VIC) - 9.03pts

4 – Arabella Wilson (VIC) - 7.56pts

12 & Under Boys:

1 – Ethan Huxtable (VIC) - 12.17pts

2 – Winter Vincent (NSW) - 10.06pts

3 – Zeb Stokes (QLD) - 8.66pts

4 – Zeph Lampard (VIC) - 7.53pts

12 & Under Girls:

1 – Poppy Corbet (VIC) - 12.83pts 

2 – Imogen Elliot (SA) - 11.67pts

3 – Lucy Tandler (QLD) - 5.03pts 4 – Sara Hitcheson (VIC) - 2.27

The 2016 Rip Curl GromSearch series is presented by Flight Centre, and proudly supported by Citroën, Surfing Australia and Surfing South Australia.

Citroën is the official vehicle partner of Rip Curl Australia & New Zealand.