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Posted on Friday March 19th 2010 at 8:58 a.m.
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Poulter will hope to defend his title at Gisborne this weekend and get the chance to represent New Zealand at the Quiksilver King of the Groms international final held in France later in the year. Image by PhotoCPL
Quinn has ensured that the event, which caters for surfers under the age of 16 from around New Zealand, will again be a highlight on the junior surfing calendar with a stack of action and prizes up for grabs.
The grommets will have no shortage of swell with cyclone Tomas drifting south down past the East Cape and also a strong Southerly swell approaching Gisborne.
"We have had good banks at all the beaches in Gisborne" commented Maz Quinn. "There are banks just north of ‘Chalets' on Wainui Beach, there are good banks up at ‘Creeks' on Makorori Beach and if the swell does get big, we can go and get waves at Pipe" added Quinn of the options open for the event.
As in 2009, the winner of the Under 16 Boys Division receives an airfare for two to France and entry into the International Quiksilver King of the Groms Final. On top of that, there are also two further air tickets to Australia up for grabs courtesy of Jet Star. The winner of the Under 16 Girls will receive a ticket to Australia to witness the 2011 Roxy Pro. The winner of the Under 14 Boys Division will receive a ticket to Australia and entry into the Quiksilver King of the Groms in Australia.
New Zealand King of the Groms champion in 2009, Ben Poulter (Rag) will be back to defend his title this year. His win in 2009 kick started a remarkable run of form for the young natural footer. He went to France with his Dad and competed in the International Quiksilver King of the Groms final. He then went on to be the highest placed New Zealand surfer at the 2010 Quiksilver ISA World Junior Surfing Championship held at Piha in January.
After gaining considerable international experience in the past 12 months, Poulter will be keen to defend his title in Gisborne this weekend and aim for higher honours in France later in the year.
Standing in his way will be young local surfer Adam Grimson the current ratings leader on the Surfing New Zealand Grommet Series. Grimson, a fellow national representative alongside Poulter has placed runner up at the first two events of the year and would love nothing more than to go one better in front of his home crowd this weekend.
Other form surfers in the Under 16 Boys Division are the likes of Sandy Bay surfer Patxi Scott - Arrieta who will relish the chance to attack any size in the surf. Also fellow Northland surfer Paul Moretti (Mimiwhangata) who placed third at the most recent event and is searching for an elusive win which many predict is just around the corner. Others include Peri Matenga (Mnt), Sean Kettle (Tara) and Tane Wallis (Piha).
The Quiksilver King of the Groms also sees the Under 14 Boys, Under 12 Boys and the Under 16 Girls take to the water.
Elliot Paerata - Reid (Piha) will be searching for some form in the Under 14 Boys Division having let Jordan Griffin (Mnt) and Dune Kennings (WGM) snatch victory at the first two grom events of the year.
Manu Scott - Arrieta (Sandy) will search out his third straight win in the Under 12 Boys Division with his nearest rivals hoping to make up for lost ground in the youngest division contested at the event.
Local girl Jayda Martin - Fitzharris will be up against the stiff competition on current ratings leader Ella Williams (WGM) in the Under 16 Girls Division which will also include the likes of the Sansom twins who have been in good form over summer.
Please see below for current ratings on the Surfing New Zealand Grommet Series.
Under 16 Boys Top 5
1, Adam Grimson (Gis)
2, Ben Poulter (Rag)
3, Paul Moretti (Mimiwhangata)
4, Peri Matenga (Mnt)
5, Patxi Scott - Arrieta (Sandy Bay)
Under 14 Boys Top 5
1, Dune Kennings (WGM)
2, Jordan Griffin (Mnt)
3, Korbin Hutchings (Gis)
4, Elliot Paerata - Reid (Piha)
5, Mahorahora McLeod (Tara)
Under 12 Boys Top 5
1, Manu Scott-Arrieta (Sandy Bay)
2, Taine Craig - Te Ranga (Waihi Beach)
3, Kehu Butler (Mnt)
4, Tane Bowden (WGM)
5, Braedyn Louie (Piha)
Under 16 Girls Top 5
1, Ella Williams (Whmata)
2, Gabriela Sansom (Auck)
3, Alethea Lock (Chch)
4, Bianca Sansom (Auck)
5, Ella Spiers (WGM)
Major prizes at the Quiksilver King of the Groms include:
Under 16 Boys - Trip to France for winner and parent to compete in the International Quiksilver King of the Groms.
Under 16 Boys winner - Trip to Australia to witness the 2011 Roxy Pro courtesy of Jet Star
Under 14 Boys - Trip to Australia to compete in the Australian King of the Groms courtesy of Jet Star
Best Air - $100-Sticky Johnson
Best Tube - $100 - Surfers Skin
Best Manoeuvre - $100 - Surfers Skin
Best Scoring Wave - $100 voucher Sequence Surf Shop
Best Wipeout - $100 voucher Sequence Surf Shop
Best Newcomer - New Wave custom surfboard
Event Sponsors
The Quiksilver Maz Quinn King of the Groms event is proudly sponsored by Quiksilver, Roxy, Jet Star, Xbox, Olympus, Macbeth, Surfers Skin, Skull Candy, Pro Lite, Sticky Johnson, New Wave and NZ Surfing Magazine.
Surfing New Zealand are proudly partnered by:
Export Gold
Hyundai
SPARC
Smokefree