On the fourth day of competition at Lennox Head, Skullcandy Oz Grom Open age division competitors welcomed a change in conditions as light cross-shore winds coincided with mellow three-foot waves.
New Zealand competitor Leia Millar appeared to have acclimated perfectly to the Lennox Head conditions as she tore apart the punchy beach breaks in her Under-18 Girls round two heat.
The lightning-fast natural-footer played a patient game in the heat, only catching three waves, but made each and every turn count as she successfully hit critical sections and left her closest rivals needing scores in the seven-point range to take away her lead.
Local surfer Ocea Curtis (Lennox Head put on a valiant effort in the heat, but ultimately had to settle for the second spot. Both girls will both appear in the quarterfinals today.
Ava Holland (Mornington Penisula, Vic) and Ruby Berry (WA) each won their respective round two heats to also qualify for the Under-18 Girls quarters.
Under-16 and under-18 boys
Balin Cullen (Avalon, NSW) and Ocean Lancaster (Merewether, NSW) both sent a warning shot over the head of their competitors, both locking in heat totals in excess of 14.00 to advance into the third round of the Under-16 Boys heat.
Fletcher Kelleher (Manly, NSW) and Mitchell Peterson (Noosa, Qld) continued their charge through the Under-18 Boys division, posting respectable two-wave heat totals in the 11 and 12-point range to cement themselves a spot into day five of competition.
Today will commence with the quarterfinals of the Pro Junior Boys followed by the semi-finals of the Pro Junior Girls, and then all quarters for all age divisions.
The iconic six-day event will comprise of 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 a similar vein to previous years – where the event has attracted surfers from ten different countries – a full international field is again in 2024 competition with surfers coming from as far away as Europe, the USA, Hawaii, Indonesia and Japan to make up a field of more than 180 surfers across all divisions.
Former event competitors include a range of current and former World Championship Tour and Challenger Series surfers, such as Macy Callaghan, Molly Picklum, Mikey, Owen and Tyler Wright, Jack Robinson and local surfers Ocea Curtis and Nyxie Ryan.
All event divisions will be broadcast live worldwide on skullcandyozgromopen.com.au
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