Eli Steele Claims Back-To-Back Queensland Wahu Surfer Groms Comps!

(Sunshine Coast - Queensland, Wednesday, 13th January, 2010): Eli Steele (Caloundra) today claimed his second Wahu Surfer Groms Comp in consecutive months, winning the Sunshine Coast leg of the national junior surfing series and capping off a stellar summer for the high-flying goofy footer.
 
Held in contestable 0.5m waves at Maroochydore (Sunshine Coast, Qld), Steele registered a combined two wave total of 12.30 (out of a possible 20) in the U/15 Boys final, fighting off late challenges from Luke Hynd (Surfers Paradise), Hayden Cervi (Sunrise Beach) and Kai Hing (Wurtulla).
 
“I can’t believe I managed to pull off another win,” said a relieved Steele after surfing his third heat of the day.
 
“To win the Wahu event on the Gold Coast last month and now in my home town on the Sunshine Coast is a dream come true,” he said.
 
Meanwhile, Moffat Beach extraordinaire Laura Poncini today captured titles in both the U/15 Girls and U/13 Girls division cementing her status as Queensland’s next champion female surfer.
 
In other news, Jaggar Bartholomew (Son of legendary Queensland surfer and 1978 World Champion Wayne Bartholomew) did his famous name no harm by walking away with the crown in the U/9 parent assist division.
 
Jaggar maintained his form from day-one and put those in attendance on notice, that one day another Bartholomew may rule the waves.
 
Not to be outdone, Quinn Bruce (Noosa) and Reef Heazlewood (Moffat Beach) solidified the Sunshine Coast contingent’s dominance today, claiming respective titles in the U/13 Boys and U/11 Boys.

Wahu Surfer Groms Comp Champions:
 
U/15 Boys - Eli Steele (Caloundra)
U/15 Girls - Laura Poncini (Moffat Beach)
U/13 Boys - Quinn Bruce (Noosa)
U/13 Girls - Laura Poncini (Moffat Beach)
U/11 Boys - Reef Heazlewood (Moffat Beach)
U/11 Girls - Alyssa Lock (Coolangatta)
U/9 mixed (parent assist) - Jaggar Barthomonew (Coolangatta)
U/15 Boys Bodyboards - Nick Reynolds (Coolum)

The Wahu Surfer Groms Comps is proudly supported by Wahu, Surfing Queensland, Surfing Australia and the Sunshine Coast Regional Council.

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