The Woolworths Surfer Groms Comp wraps up at Tugun Beach on the Gold Coast

The Woolworths Surfers Groms Comps stop No.4 of the nationwide series wrapped up on the weekend with a marathon day of competition at Tugun beach on the Gold Coast.

Conditions were favourable in the morning with little to no wind and peaks all the way down the beach, creating a dream scenario to kick off finals day on Sunday. The wind increased as the day rolled, but proved no obstacle for the Under 14 talent. 

One of the standout heats of the day was the Under 10 Girls round two heat which saw the highest heat totals of the day and the only 10 point score by young star, Kobi Lana Partridge (Coolangatta). Partridge went through to the finals where she eventually lost out to Eliana Tabacaru (Bli Bli) in a close-fought heat.

The Under 12 Boys Division was taken out by Peregian Springs surfer, Sunny Canina. Canina defeated Tully Crompton (Tugun), Sonny Brooke (Marcus Beach) and Finn Jones (Terranora).

The Under 14 Girls division was won by Eliza Richardson (Sunshine Beach) who had a close heat with twin sister, Rosie Richardson (Sunshine Beach), and got the winning wave in the dying minutes. Third place went to Gidget Kowalski (Kirra) and fourth, Amelia Johnston (Marcus Beach).

“It was such a close final,” Richardson said.

“Rosie was winning all heat but I had priority with two minutes to go and was lucky to get the score to beat her.”

Undeniable event standout, Lucas Deffenti (Miami), took top honours in the Under 14 boys division with a masterful display of surfing and competitive strategy. He overcame Hemi O’Brien (Palm Beach), Luca Martin (Coolangatta) and Ky Clements (Coolum Beach) respectively. 

“I’m stoked to get the win over Hemi,” Deffenti said.

“I knew he could get the score at the end of the heat to beat me, so I tried to stop him from getting a wave, and in the end it worked.”

The Le Tan “Le Breakthrough” Award, which recognises the surfer who achieves a breakthrough performance and pushes their own limits to new heights, went to Sunny Clarke (Elanora).

RESULTS:

U14 Boys
1st – Lucas Deffenti (Miami)
2nd – Hemi O’Brien (Palm Beach)
3rd – Luca Martin (Coolangatta)
4th – Ky Clements (Coolum Beach)

U14 Girls
1st – Eliza Richardson (Sunshine Beach)
2nd – Rosie Richardson (Sunshine Beach)
3rd – Gidget Kowalski (Kirra)
4th – Amelia Johnston (Marcus Beach)

U12 Boys
1st – Sunny Canina (Peregian Springs)
2nd – Tully Crompton (Tugun)
3rd – Sonny Brooke (Marcus Beach)
4th – Finn Jones (Terranora)

U12 Girls
1st – Navah Holmes (Tugun)
2nd – Evie Bawden (Noosa)
3rd – Evie Johnston (Marcus Beach)
4th – Mia Mcgillivray (Evans Head)

U10 Boys
1st – Lenny Scott (Palm Beach)
2nd – Noah Colebert (Palm Beach)
3rd – Flynn Swierczewski (Coolangatta)
4th – Gabriel Kenchington (Tallebudgera)

U10 Girls
1st – Eliana Tabacaru (Bli Bli)
2nd – Summer Hidalgo Callahan (Ormeau
3rd – Kobi Lana Partridge (Coolangatta)
4th – Lulu George (Palm Beach)

U8 Mixed
1st – Kruz Perez (Elanora)
2nd – Lincoln Gedling (Kingscliff)
3rd – Knox Holmes (Tugun)
4th – Fyn Herlihy (Tugun)

See Live Heats for full results HERE.

About the 2023 Woolworths Surfer Grom Comp Series

Regarded as one of the major stepping stones in the development of young Australian surfers, the 10-event Woolworths Surfer Groms Comps series caters for surfers from Under 8 to Under 14 and will be held in New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, Western Australia, Tasmania and South Australia over summer.

As an added bonus, the respective winners of the Under 14 boys’ and girls’ divisions from each event will receive an invite to attend an all-expenses-paid, three-day Woolworths Surfer Groms Comps National Final Surf Camp, (1-day coaching clinic, two days of competition and heat analysis coaching) at the Surfing Australia High-Performance Centre (HPC). For the South Australian, Victorian and Tasmanian events, the Woolworths Surf Camp prize will be awarded to the highest place Under-14 Boy and Girl who reside in that respective state.

Woolworths Surfer Groms Comps 2023 Schedule:

• EVENT 1 – Kiama, NSW – Sept 2 – 3, 2023
• EVENT 2 – Coffs Harbour, NSW – Sept 9 – 10, 2023 
• EVENT 3 – Fleurieu Peninsula, SA – Sept 30, 2023
• EVENT 4 – Gold Coast, QLD – Oct 7 – 8, 2023
• EVENT 5 – Torquay, VIC – Oct 14 – 15, 2023
• EVENT 6 – Clifton Beach, TAS – Oct 28, 2023
• EVENT 7 – Northern Beaches, NSW – Nov 4 – 5, 2023
• EVENT 8 – Trigg, WA – Nov 18 – 19, 2023
• EVENT 9 – Cronulla, NSW – Dec 2 – 3, 2023 
• EVENT 10 – Sunshine Coast, QLD – Dec 9 – 10, 2023
• National Final – Surfing Australia HPC, Casuarina, NSW – Dec 16 – 18, 2023

The Woolworths Surfer Groms Comps Series is proudly supported by Le Tan, Ruffie Rustic Foods, Wax Fresh and Surfing Australia.