For immediate release
8 May 2024
From: Surfing New Zealand
Sport: Surfing
Event: Sequence Surf Shop Gisborne Junior Pro
Dates: 11-12 May 2024
Divisions: Under 18, 16 and 14 Boys, and Girls
Location: Gisborne
Websites: Surfing New Zealand , Sequence Surf Shop,
Gisborne to host 2024 Grom Series Final Show down this weekend
After an incredible summer of junior surfing events New Zealand’s top groms froth levels are turned to max as the Sequence Surf Shop Gisborne Junior Pro concludes a long junior surfing season. This weekend Makorori (Redbus) plays host to the 13th grom event of 2024.
Combined with South Island Connect Group Grom Series, The Billabong Grom Series and various other individual events, the New Zealand Grom Series is a chance for junior surfers to test themselves against their companions from all around the country.
The Sequence Surf Shop Junior Pro is in to its third season after selling out in 2023, 2022, and again in 2024. Supported by Sequence Surf Shop, Creatures of Leisure, Gisborne Boardriders and Sex Wax it adds another exciting event to what is already a stacked calendar for New Zealand’s junior surfers.
This weekend the conditions could prove challenging to start with as a 3m south swell builds with consistent South/ Southwesterly winds. Before dropping away on Sunday providing an excellent finals day playing field.
As in previous years Sequence Surf Shop have put up $100 for the biggest manouver award, the prize going to a grom who looks to be putting it all on the line and going big. Airs, big hacks and radical manoeuvres will see one surfer from the Under 14s, 16s and 18s boys’ and girls’ divisions walk away $100 richer.
The Highest Heat score award will also be given out for the highest combined heat score with the winner walking away with an epic Proto1.4 tail pad courtesy of Creatures of Leisure.
Surfers from Ahipara down to Dunedin will take part on the weekend in Under 14, Under 16 and Under 18 divisions with action taking place from 8am – 5pm daily.
In the Under 14 Girls division Jade Nias Phillips of the Far North will make her way to the East Coast whilst Nami Marsden 4th in nz rankings, Jayda Bramely 5th and Ella Withers who have been on a tear all season, will look to jump to the top of the rankings. Gisborne Locals Madeline Smith and Charlotte McDiarmid will represent their home region.
In the hotly contested, under 14 boys’ division Jesse Frazerhust (Piha) will look to defend his spot at the top of table, against Luca Thompson, Taj Phillips, Zeke Pragert, Zak Becroft, and Kentaro Mitchell. Representing home turf, Jaxon Pardoe, will lead a horde of Gizzy Groms into the final grom event of the year including Tobias Smith, Archie Alder, Harry McFarlane, Waylon Lynch, Lenny Quinn, Luca Tong, Tyson Ingoe and Oska Gunness.
A sold out Under 16 division is also sure to please the crowds as Sam Frazerhurst, Tyler Stenzel (Mnt), Sev Tolhurst, Zen Mouldey, Remy Sale (Mnt) and Indica Knox Corcoran (Rag) confirm their attendance. This division has been a standout all year and promises to finish with a bang. Flying the Tairawhiti flag and eager for a win this season Shea Ferguson, Jett Dalton, Ollie Tong and Nikau Anderson will be the ones to stand in the out of towners way.
In the 16 girls division, rating leader Kyra Wallis will be in attendance looking to defend her reign at the top of the leaderboard as will 2nd place finalist in the 2023 edition of the event Poppy Entwisle, with some Excellent results this year and a number of finals berths she will look to round out the season with a win. Brooke Matthews, Bonnie Lynch, Lucy McDiarmid will be the local girls standing in her way.
Of course, no event is complete without the Under 18s division and with 32 of the best up and coming under 18 surfers attending, this weekend is sure to be a blast. Joe Goodjohn, previous Under 16 champion steps up into the division alongside Tava Santorik (Mnt), Christian Fougere (Piha), Søren Bucka-Christensen (Tara), Will Hardie (Piha) and James Charlesworth to contest for the title and 2000 points towards their national ranking.
In the Under 18 girls Pia Rogers and Leia Millar look to cement their places at the top of the rankings after a stellar year whilst local surfers Molly Mahina, Te Waioutu Fairlie hope to take another title for Gisborne. A strong contingent of Raglan surfers will also be in attendance including Ayla Gee, Jade Camenzind, Meila Clarke and Katie Matuschka.
This year’s event would not be possible without the support of Sequence Surf Shop Gisborne, Gisborne Boardriders, Creatures of Leisure, Sex Wax and Eastern & Central Community Trust (ECCT).
Further Information
For further information on the 2024 Sequence Surf Shop Gisborne Junior Pro, please contact Surfing New Zealand’s Ben Kennings on 021 2278732 or email benkennings@surfingnz.co.nz.
Imagery
High-resolution images will be available to media upon request.
Images will be distributed free of charge courtesy of New Zealand Surfing Magazine.
Please contact Ben Kennings for further details.
Event Details
The draw and results can be viewed at www.Liveheats.com/SurfingNewZealand.
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Author: Dan Westerkamp