Despite scoring the top ride in her U/14 semi-final local surfer Leihani Zoric didn’t make it to the finals last week. Photo Ethan Smith
The 2023 Skullcandy Oz Grom surfing event concluded in Lennox Head last week with eight new champions crowned across six age divisions, as well as the World Surf League (WSL) Junior Qualifying Series (JQS) Pro Junior division.
The six-day event ran from 6 July to 11 July 2023 and included a World Surf League (WSL) sanctioned Pro Junior Qualifying Series (JQS) event as well as an elite competition for promising grommets in the 14, 16 and 18 year age divisions.
In all 270 surfers competed across the event.
Milla Brown (Bungan, NSW) won the coveted Pro Junior title as well as the U/18 girls division.
Rosie Smart (Sawtell, NSW) came second followed by Sierra Kerr (Coolangatta, Qld) and Isla Huppatz (Bilinga, Qld).
‘This is the best day of my competitive career so far for sure,’ said Brown.
Marlon Harrison (Coolangatta, Qld) scored a late wave to claim the win in the male Pro Junior division.
He nudged out Rico Haybittle (Burleigh, Qld), Tim Bain (Noosa, Qld) and Oliver Ryssenbeek (Newcastle, NSW).
‘A five-person judging panel comprised of current WSL Championship Tour and Qualifying Series judges were on-site as well as a live webcast that collectively sets this event above any other junior competition in the world,’ orgainisers said.
