Eli Steele Dominates The Gold Coast Wahu Surfer Groms Comps!

(Gold Coast - Queensland, Sunday, 13th December, 2009): ON a day when Australia’s Mick Fanning claimed his second World Title, the nation’s next generation of budding surf stars staked their claim as future champions with the Wahu Surfer Groms Comp coming to a close on the Gold Coast.
 
The final day of action at Narrowneck (Surfers Paradise) saw seven division champions crowned across the U/15 Boys, U/15 Girls, U/13 Boys, U/13 Girls, U/11 Boys, U/11 Girls and U/9 mixed (parent assist).
 
Grommet-extraordinaire Eli Steele (Caloundra),14, collected another feather for his cap in the U/15 Boys, easily winning the blue ribbon division final registering an event high combined two wave total of 17.44 (out of a possible 20), disposing of Michael Wright (Lennox Head), Mitchell Ellis (Currumbin) and Izak Clifford (Marcus Beach).
 
“It’s sick to win an event like the Wahu Surfer Grom Comp and it will give me a good preparation heading into the summer events,” said Steele
 
Meanwhile, it was hard to escape the smiles in the U/9 parent assist division, with overall results seemingly irrelevant amongst the event’s youngest competitors.
 
However, with mums’ and dads’ along for the ride and an emphasis on fun, there could only be one winner on the day with Jordan Wheatley (Coolangatta) just edging out Kai Black (Palm Beach), Joshua Grange (Burleigh Heads) and Alister Reginato (Maroochydore) who finished second to fourth respectively.
 
Stepping up to the U/11’s boys, Dexter Muskins (Duranbah) showed why he’ll be mixing it with the best junior surfers in years to come, dominating the draw throughout the two-day event, while his U/11 female counterpart Koby Enright (Palm Beach) was equally impressive on her way to a well earned victory ahead of Palm Beach’s triple threat of Kiani Dobbyn (2nd) Alyssa Lock (3rd) and Ebony Wilson (4th) with Rainbow Bay’s Alex Johnson coming in a close fifth.
 
A late injury withdrawal from U/13 Boys favourite Kai Hing (Wurtulla), paved the way for Jake Snellgrove (Lennox Head, NSW) to capitalise on a wide open final on his way to defeating Sheldon Simkus (Duranbah) and Joe Van Dijk (Phillip Island) along the way.

Not to be out done, Duranbah’s Kobie Enright (U/13 Girls) and Coolangatta’s Jade Wheatley (U/15 Girls) each put their idol Stephanie Gilmore on notice notching up impressive campaigns to claim the crown in their respective division.
 
Wahu Surfer Groms Comp Champions:
 
U/15 Boys - Eli Steele (Caloundra)
U/15 Girls - Jade Wheatley (Coolangatta)
U/13 Boys - Jake Snellgrove (Lennox Head, NSW)
U/13 Girls - Kobie Enright (U/13 Girls)
U/11 Boys - Dexter Muskins (Duranbah)
U/11 Girls - Koby Enright (Palm Beach)
U/9 mixed (parent assist) - Jordan Wheatley (Coolangatta)

Stay tuned to www.surfingqueensland.com for news, photos and results relating to the event.

Wahu Surfer Groms Comps Schedule:

Event 1
November 14-15 2009
Newcastle, NSW

Event 2
November 21-22 2009
Ocean Grove, Victoria

Event 3
December 5 2009
Moana Beach, South Australia

Event 4
December 12-13 2009
Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast, Queensland

Event 5
December 19-20 2009
Northern Beaches, NSW

Event 6
January 12-13 2010
Sunshine Coast, Queensland

Event 7
January 23-24 2010
Trigg Point, Western Australia