Californian Pat Curren wins the 10 year anniversary Rip Curl GromSearch International final in the b

Californian Pat Curren wins the 10 year anniversary Rip Curl GromSearch International final in the best conditions ever seen for a GromSearch final. Lakey Peak, Dompu, Sumbawa Indonesia. - May 7-10, 2014.

 
The local boys giving Curren a proper ‘chair’ up the beach; a deserving finish to the day for our champion. - Photo Credit : @Mick_curley_photo 

May 10, 2014 , Lakey Peak, Dompu Sumbawa ; Lakey Peak, Dompu provided the best surf ever for a Rip Curl GromSearch event to decide the boys division of the International GromSearch final. Pat Curren (California, USA) and Jacob Willcox (Margret River, Western Australia) traded overhead sized waves in an amazing final, with the Californian posting a total heat score of 19.63 (out of a possible 20) points, that included a perfect 10 point ride, to hold off the Australian.

In one of the best Junior finals ever witnessed Curren and Willcox swapped the lead early until Curren took off on a solid set wave, pulled into a long, deep tubing wave and then added several critical turns to post a 10. Willcox came back with four excellent waves himself, including a 9.47 for a heat total of 18.63, but couldn’t hold off Curren who added a 9.63 for yet another sensational tube to stamp the win. Curren is the first Californian to ever win the RCGS International final in its ten-year history.

“I’ve never experienced waves like that in a competition before. Perfect barrels with ripable walls and 30 minutes to get the ones you want, it’s just a dream to be here” said an elated Curren after the biggest win in his young career.

“I just crept past Raju in the semi after he got that mental barrel and then he got another one on the siren which made it even closer. Then I had Jacob in the final, which is a tough assignment any day, let alone when the waves are pumping left hand tubes. I was just lucky enough to get the better ones today and am super stoked to win the GromSearch International final. What a day!”

Willcox was equally impressed with the conditions “That was the best grom event ever. It’s my last year in the Rip Curl GromSearch series and I’m stoked that I finished up in the final in pumping waves” said Willcox “I was lucky to get a good barrel under priority against Tim Bisso earlier in the day, then Pat and I went wave for wave in the final, but Pat just kept getting the better ones and took the title. He ripped all event and deserved the win, good on him.”

Raju Sena (Bali/Indonesia) and Tim Bisso (Guadalupe/France) finished equal third when they bowed out in the semi final. “I got one of the best barrels of my life today” said Raju referring to the 9.17 ride he got in his quarter final win over Jackson Giles (AUS) this morning. “So stoked to make it to the semis, it would have been nice to surf the final for Indonesia, but I’m happy with the result”

Bisso was one of the form surfers of the event and started the day with multiple barrels in his quarter final against Brazilian Gustavo Ramos. He then fell just short to Willcox in the semi final, with a priority mistake costing him the chance of the title “I allowed Jacob to get a wave when I had priority and it turned out to be a really good one” said the gracious goofy footer. “I made a mistake and he took advantage, that is what good surfers do.”

The day also included the last heat of the ‘Lakey versus The World’ specialty event, which provides local Lakey Peak surfers with the opportunity to surf against International surfers visiting for the Rip Curl GromSearch event. 8 junior surfers and 8 ‘Lakey Legends’ elder statesmen surfed against the visitors, each surfer contributing their single best wave score for a combined team total.

Going into the last heat the ‘Lakey legends’ were just 2.50 points behind the World team’s combined total of 94.70. But the Lakey crew used their local knowledge to perfection to steal the show with Joey Barrel and Mark ‘Boonga’ Clift locking in ten point rides to end up overall winners, 128.00 total points to 126.40.

“It was great to run the ‘Lakey versus the World’ event” said Lakey Legend team captain Sami Syamsudin. It’s good to get the local community involved and the kids loved it. Even us older surfers got a chance which was a nice way to finish.”

The event finished with the official awards ceremony to present the trophies and close the event. After the ceremony all the competitors took some gifts they brought from their home country to the local Harapan Project that helps manage underprivileged kids from the local area. The gesture was a sign of appreciation to the wonderful hospitality that the event has received from the local community. (www.proyectoharapan.org)

Rip Curl GromSearch International Final.

May 10, 2014 Results.

Boys Final:

1^st  Pat Curren – 19.63, 2^nd  Jacob Willcox – 18.63

Boys Semi Finals:

SF1. 1^st  Jacob Willcox – 18.50, 2^nd  Tim Bisso – 17.80

SF2. 1^st  Pat Curren – 16.00, 2^nd Raju Sena– 15.87

Boys Quarter Finals:

QF1. 1^st Tim Bisso (FRA) – 14.40, 2^nd Gustavo Ramos (BRA) – 10.17

QF2. 1^st Jacob Willcox (AUS) – 15.00, 2^nd Andre Anwar (IDN) – 13.80

QF3. 1^st Pat Curren (USA) – 17.27, 2^ND Daniel Far (NZL) – 11.30

QF4. 1^st Raju Sena (IDN) – 16.57, 2^nd Jackson Giles (AUS) – 9.00

The 10th Rip Curl GromSearch International Final runs May 7 to May 10, 2014.

More news, images and information available at www.ripcurl.com

The Rip Curl GromSearch International final is supported by Bapak Bupati Kabupaten DOMPU (Lakey DOMPU Government).

POSCA is a major partner of the event with further support from the Asian Surfing Championships (ASC) and Lakey Peak Boardriders

History - Rip Curl GromSearch International Champions.

2014 – Pat Curren (USA) & Brisa Hennessy (HAW)

2013 – Leonardo Fioravanti (ITL) & Tatiana Wetson-webb (HAW)

2012 – Dylan Lightfoot (ZAF) & Tatiana Wetson-webb (HAW)

2011 – Mitch Parkinson (AUS) & Nikki Van Dijk (AUS)

2010 – Gabriel Medina (BRA) & Bianca Buitendag (ZAF)

2009 – Thomas Woods (AUS) & Nikki Van Dijk (AUS)

2008 – Dale Staples (ZAF) & Malia Manuel (HAW)

2007 – Tyler Newton (HAW) & Tyler Wright (AUS)

2006 – Owen Wright (AUS) & Alana Blanchard (HAW)

2005 – Mason Ho (HAW) & Nikita Robb (ZAF)

 
Lakey Peak, Dompu, Sumbawa Island - May 10   
|This is how competitors were welcomed to finals day at the 2014 Rip Curl GromSearch International Championship. 
|Photo Credit : @Mick_curley_photo 

 
Lakey Peak, Dompu, Sumbawa Island - May 10 | The swell jacked up over night and Gustavo Ramos took advantage of the pumping conditions.   
|Photo Credit : @Mick_curley_photo 

 
Lakey Peak, Dompu, Sumbawa Island - May 10 
|Tim Bisso staring into the beast that is Lakey Peak. | Photo Credit : @Mick_curley_photo 

 
Lakey Peak, Dompu, Sumbawa Island - May 10 
|Bisso put on quite a show in his semi final clash with eventual runner up, Jacob Willcox. Bisso went down swinging with a 17.80 heat total. 
| Photo Credit : @Mick_curley_photo 


 
Lakey Peak, Dompu, Sumbawa Island - May 10 |Bisso saying, “Terima Kasih banyak (thank you very much),” to Lakey Peak.   
|Photo Credit : @Mick_curley_photo 

 
Lakey Peak, Dompu, Sumbawa Island - May 10 
|Quarterfinalist, Andre Anwar, unleashing a wicked grabrail cutty. 
| Photo Credit : @Mick_curley_photo 


 
Lakey Peak, Dompu, Sumbawa Island - May 10 
| Eventual champion, Pat Curren, pulling deep in during his quarter final matchup. 

 
Lakey Peak, Dompu, Sumbawa Island - May 10 
|Curren displayed a knack for the tube all day long as he continuously posted scores in the 8 – 10 point range. 
| Photo Credit : @Mick_curley_photo 

 
Lakey Peak, Dompu, Sumbawa Island - May 10 
| New Zealand’s Daniel Farr (age 14), couldn’t quite match Curren’s game, but still had an amazing time surfing in the GromSearch. 
 | Photo Credit : @Mick_curley_photo 

 
Lakey Peak, Dompu, Sumbawa Island - May 10 | 
|Tim Bisso slotted once again. 
| Photo Credit : @Mick_curley_photo 


 
Lakey Peak, Dompu, Sumbawa Island - May 10 
| Is Jacob Willcox having fun? Most definitely. 
|Photo Credit : @Mick_curley_photo 

 
Lakey Peak, Dompu, Sumbawa Island - May 10 
| Willcox in arguably the throatiest barrel of the event. Willcox looked right at home in the massive lefthand pits. 
| Photo Credit : @Mick_curley_photo 


 
Lakey Peak, Dompu, Sumbawa Island - May 10 | 
|With Bisso falling behind Willcox late in the heat, Bisso threw it all on the line as he attempted a few massive airs, but unfortunately for him came unstuck 
| Photo Credit : @Mick_curley_photo 

 
Lakey Peak, Dompu, Sumbawa Island - May 10 
|Bali’s Raju Sena, our youngest competitor on the boy’s side of the draw (13), scored one of the best barrels of his life – 9.17. 
|Photo Credit : @Mick_curley_photo   


 
Lakey Peak, Dompu, Sumbawa Island - May 10 | : Pat Curren could teach a class on how to bottom turn with style. 
 Photo Credit : @Mick_curley_photo   


 
Lakey Peak, Dompu, Sumbawa Island - May 10 -…Curren tucking in to the infamous second section at Lakey Peak. 
Photo Credit : @Mick_curley_photo   

 
Lakey Peak, Dompu, Sumbawa Island - May 10 
: Between the boy’s semi and the final, the Lakey Legends took to the lineup. Joey Barrel scored a perfect 10 for this tube ride.   
Photo Credit : @Mick_curley_photo 

 
Lakey Peak, Dompu, Sumbawa Island - May 10 
Curren mixed it up with some tail wafting maneuvers to help secure the best result of his young career. 
Photo Credit : @Mick_curley_photo 

 
Lakey Peak, Dompu, Sumbawa Island - May 10 
Willcox threading the needle on his 9.47 during the final.   
Photo Credit : @Mick_curley_photo 


 
Lakey Peak, Dompu, Sumbawa Island - May 10 
That expression says it all, one stoked Patrick Curren staking claim to the 2014 RCGS International title. 
Photo Credit : @Mick_curley_photo 

 
Lakey Peak, Dompu, Sumbawa Island - May 10 
A big group photo with everyone involved in the event. 
Photo Credit : @Mick_curley_photo 

 
Lakey Peak, Dompu, Sumbawa Island - May 10 
The governor poses for a photo with the top 2 finishers of the boys and girls divisions. 
Photo Credit : @Mick_curley_photo 

 
Lakey Peak, Dompu, Sumbawa Island - May 10 
All the local surfers/families came out to support the event and wish their goodbyes to their new friends. 
Photo Credit : @Mick_curley_photo 

 
Lakey Peak, Dompu, Sumbawa Island - May 10 
The local kids helped display each of the competing nations flags on the stage. 
Photo Credit : @Mick_curley_photo   

 
Lakey Peak, Dompu, Sumbawa Island - May 10 
A humbling closing speech by Lakey Peak pro surfer, and Rip Curl ambassador Oney Anwar. 
Photo Credit : @Mick_curley_photo 

 
Lakey Peak, Dompu, Sumbawa Island - May 10 
Coloring Time with Australian Jackson Giles 
Photo Credit : @Mick_curley_photo 

 
Lakey Peak, Dompu, Sumbawa Island - May 10 
The kids sprinting down to the shoreline. 
Photo Credit : @Mick_curley_photo 

 
Lakey Peak, Dompu, Sumbawa Island - May 10 
A great group photo at sunset, the kids will remember this day for year’s to come. 
Photo Credit : @Mick_curley_photo 

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