Photographer: SNSW/Smith
Four Lennox Head junior surfers had great results at the Rip Curl GromSearch National Final held at the iconic North Narrabeen Beach and two of them walked away as national champions.
Lennox Head surfers Nyxie Ryan and Jai Glinderman both bagged titles for the Northern Rivers region taking out the 14 and Under Girls and 12 and Under Boys respectively.
Ryan smashed her woman on woman final with a massive 15.50 heat total to claim the win ahead of Carly Shanahan (Wooli, NSW) on 5.16, while Glinderman also had a solid heat score with a total of 14.34 to get the nod over fellow Lennox Head standout Jack O’Brien on 10.93 in their man on man final.
As a former Narrabeen resident, Glinderman had the local crowd on their feet when he claimed the top spot on the dais.
Nyxie’s younger brother Dembe Ryan also had a great event with a third place in the 12 Boys, bowing out in the semi finals.
Nyxie Ryan backed up her win last year in the 12 and Under Girls and over the last few years has emerged as the top surfer for her age in Australia.
What was so impressive is it was her first year in the division and she will still be eligible to compete in the same division in 2018.
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: Male: Matt Wilkinson (Australia), Gabriel Medina (Brazil), Kolohe Andino (USA), Felipe Toledo (Brazil), Jordy Smith (South Africa), Nat Young (USA).
Female: Tyler Wright (Australia), Stephanie Gilmore (Aust), Malia Manuel (USA), Sally Fitzgibbons (Aust), Nikki Van Dijk (Aust), Tatiana Weston-Webb (Hawaii).
All Rip Curl GromSearch events include boys’ and girls’ divisions in 16 and under, 14 and under, and 12 and under age groups.
Surfers receive points for their results in each event, which then count towards a National GromSearch ratings system, allowing surfers from around Australia to compare their results with contemporaries.
The Rip Curl GromSearch series started in 1999 as a one-day event at Jan Juc 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.
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