In large clean 3 metre seas at Lennox Head huge performances were called on to win the most prestigious Rusty Gromfest titles across 12, 14 and 16 year divisions.

Multiple past winners Matt Banting and Tyler Wright took out the blue ribbon 16 year divisions.

For Wright this was her 6th Rusty Gromfest title and amazingly she could make that 7 as she still has one year to compete at this age division next year.

“That was one of the closest finals I’ve had to surf here, I knew my final ride had to be a good one and I was lucky to pick it up in the final minute and grab the win “ said Tyler after her win.

“Rusty Gromfest is such a great event and today’s been special with my younger brother winning as well, the waves have been big but really fun as well.”

Wright was trailing in third position until that final ride when she posted the required 5.5 score to jump to first.

Kingscliff surfer Codie Klein finished the final in second place having lead for the greater part and while disappointed she can take a lot from her performance having pushed Wright who has already established one of the greatest junior competitive surfing records.

For Port Macquarie surfer Matt Banting, today’s win marked his 5th Rusty Gromfest title.

“They were the biggest waves I’ve had here for sure and that final was a tough one with long paddles and super long rides as well” said Banting.

“ You really only had time to score two good rides and there was no margin for error out there at all.”

Banting opened with an excellent 8 point ride but was strongly challenged by Central Coast NSW surfer Dylan Cummings who scored an early 8.75, the highest scoring ride in the final, but Cummings ran out of time chasing just a moderate 6.9 to take the lead.

Michael Wright provided the day’s biggest highlight in his win in the 14 Boys division.

Just 12 years of age, Wright opened the final with a sensational perfect 10 point ride riding a large set wave for over 100 meters through the Lennox Beachbreak and shortly after backed it up with a strong 7.25 to take the win over Tahitian surfer Keoni Yan of Tahiti.

The 14 Girls final saw great performances from all four finalists who took on the biggest sets of the day.

Thirteen year old Gold Coast charger Sarah Mason took a deserved win displaying a very committed, stylish and powerful backhand attack defeating local Byron Bay surfer Kirstin Ogden.

Twelve and under surfers were unfazed with today’s big seas and attacked the waves were often three times overhead!

West Australian sensation Jack Robinson was too good for his opponents today and took a comprehensive win in the final over Newport Beach Sydney surfer Sam Bond with Kanoa Igarashi from the USA in 3rd place while in the girls 12 Tahitian Karelle Poppke took the win ahead of Laura Poncini (Moffart Beach Sunshine Coast).

Across all divisions today’s surfing highlighted the quality of the Rusty Gromfest and the young surfers charged the challenging surf.

The large crowd regularly applauded the efforts of the surfers and many observed that this years event was probably the biggest surf and best performances seen in the 14 year history of Rusty Gromfest.

Held at an ideal time of the year in the surf rich Lennox head region, Rusty Gromfest remains one of Australia’s truly iconic events!

Rusty Gromfest Final Results

12 Girls: 1st Karelle Poppke (Tahiti), Laura Poncini (Moffat Beach), Iiuka Enright (Tweed Heads), Lucy Callister (Noosaville)

12 Boys: 1stJack Robinson (Margaret River), Sam Bond (Newport Beach NSW), Kanoa Igarashi (USA), Zac Wightman ( Lennox Head)

14 Girls: 1stSarah Mason (Tugun), Kirstin Ogden (Byron Bay), Coco Beeby (Scotts Head), Steph Single (Lennox Head)

14 Boys: 1st,Michael Wright (Lennox Head), Keoni Yan (Tahiti), Adam Grimson (NZ), Tommy Boucaut (Ocean Shores)

16 Girls: 1stTyler Wright (Lennox Head), Codie Klein (Kingscliff/NSW), Grace Styman-Lane (Clareville), Letarcia Hurt (Kingscliff)

16 Boys: 1st Matt Banting (Port Macquarie), Dylan Cummings (Norahville/Central Coast NSW), Sol Pereira – Ryan (Coolangatta), Niki Hoskin (Lennox Head)

The ocean skills of Australia’s top 16 and under surfers were put to the ultimate test at Lennox Head on the Far North Coast of NSW at today’s Rusty Gromfest.

On a day when most surf beaches on the north coast were closed due to massive 3 metre plus seas these 16 year and under surfers were giving their all chasing a prestigious Rusty Gromfest Title which is one of the most esteemed prizes in grommet surfing.

Standouts today included Matt Banting (Port Macquarie), Jake Sylvester (Newcastle), Sol Pereira-Ryan (Coolangatta), Jack Robinson (Margaret River) and Tyler Wright (Lennox Head) who all coped well with the rugged seas.

Tyler Wright is one of the most experienced competitors in the field, having already won a record five Rusty Gromfest titles and she is certainly the girl to beat in the 16 Girls division after again posting the top scoring quarter final heat win here today.

Wright is also the current Australian and World Junior Champion and even she commented on today’s conditions saying, “ They are really tough conditions out there today!

“Paddling out you are hoping for a lull in the sets or at least a few sets that are not so big….I come from a clubby background and that helps on days like today because we were always shown how to deal with close outs and rough seas….I’m comfortable out there but I also check my legrope and make sure it’s in good order on days like this as it’s no fun snapping a leash and being forced to swim in, if that happens you really can’t win the heat because you’d spend all your time and energy just getting in.”

Tyler Wright’s younger 13 year old brother Michael was also extremely impressive winning his 14 Boys heat later in the day.

Incredibly, 12 and under Boy and Girl surfers notched up some of the day’s top scoring heats however they were advantaged by riding the inside shore break surf while the 16 and 14 aged divisions were forced to deal with long paddles to the outer banks, multiple close out sets and conditions that were as much a test of fitness and ocean awareness as they were of surfing prowess.

Surfers generally were forced to take inbetween sized waves today as the larger waves were straight close outs, while the in-between sets offered some good peeling sections.

Jack Robinson (11years/Margaret River) posted the day’s top scoring ride with an outstanding 9 point score early in the day and the diminutive standout will be looking to add to his already impressive 12 year and under competitive record with a win.

With one day to run organizers will assess conditions tomorrow morning, hoping today’s swell abates a little and will make a call early tomorrow morning.

Rusty Gromfest 2009
Lennox Head Australia, Far North Coast NSW
Australia’s and many of the world’s best young 16 year and under surfers were greeted to large 2m surf along with cold offshore winds for day one of the Rusty Gromfest at Lennox Head beachbreaks today.
The solid waves brought out some big performances and powerful moves were aplenty as the 16 and 14 year and under Boy and Girl divisions completed their round one heats.
West Australia’s Creed McTaggart is no stranger to powerful surf coming from the famous Margaret River region and he relished today’s surf posting one of the day’s most impressive wins.
“It was tough paddling through the close out sets and just holding position out the back but the waves are good when you pick up the right one, the clean wave faces allow plenty of scoring opportunities” said Creed after his win.
“I definitely prefer larger conditions as to small and apparently it’s going to stay solid throughout the event so that’s good!”
Other impressive performances were from Jake Sylvester (Newcastle), Matt Banting (Port Macquarie), Dylan Cummings (Central Coast NSW) and Nick Edgerton (Wurtulla/Qld) who all won their opening round heats easily. Matt Banting, with a heat tally on his top two scoring rides of 16.05 along with a top wave score of 8.9 (out of a possible 10) was the day’s highest scoring winner.
In the 14 Boys local surfer Michael Wright charged the larger set waves to easily win his heat and later his high profiled sister Tyler who is current Australian and World Junior surfing champion and also a multiple Rusty Gromfest champion, easily won her opening round 16 Girls heat.
Other impressive winners in the girls division included Sarah Mason (Coolangatta), Kirstin Ogden (Byron Bay), Nikki Van Dijk (Phillip Island Victoria) and Cody Klien (Kingscliff/NSW).
While the day was unusually cold for Northern NSW, the waves remained good all day and tomorrow forecasts indicate even larger surf with offshore winds, great conditions and more winter sun!
Organizers will make a call on conditions early tomorrow morning at Lennox Head.
Daily press releases will be forwarded from Rusty Gromfest around 3pm each day

Wild conditions have postponed the events first day of competition, conditions should settle tomorrow (Saturday 11th July) the same first day heat format will stay the same.

(HEAT DRAW NOW UP)

A very solid easterly swell is set to unload on NSW’s far north coast right on time for the 14th annual Rusty Gromfest which begins tomorrow, Friday July 10th, with a waiting period running through to Tuesday the 14th of July.

Most of Australia’s and many of the world’s best young surfers from Tahiti, Hawaii, New Zealand, USA, Ireland, England, Indonesia and Japan will line up in conditions that are certain to test not just all these great young athletes surfing skills but also their all round ocean skills.

Contest Director Max Perrot commented on the coming swell saying, “Once again Rusty Gromfest will deliver surf and I’m monitoring the weather and swell forecasts closely and I’m utilizing the expertise of some long time local surfers to ensure we get the best of the conditions across the five day waiting period.”

Rusty Gromfest is the original and most prestigious grommet event in the world and the horde of young surfers heading to Lennox Head will all be hoping to enhance their careers in a big way by making the final and hopefully winning a Rusty Gromfest title.

The line–up is awesome with the likes of Tyler Wright (Lennox Head), Matt Banting (Port Macquarie) and Jack Robinson (Margaret River) facing a top line field of internationals along with many relatively unknown but rapidly emerging young talents from Australia wide.

Competitors will meet at 7:00am Friday morning on the beach at central Lennox Head for a call on the day one location and schedule with the event having the luxury of choosing a location across a great variety of quality surf spots in the area.

Great young surfers chasing prestigious Rusty Gromfest Titles is eyeballed by all in the surfing world.

Daily press releases will be forwarded from Rusty Gromfest along with high quality digital complimentary images.

Results, news and press releases will be constantly updated on www.surfingaustralia.com

Rusty Gromfest is made possible thanks to the support of Rusty, FCS, Otis, Waves Magazine, Bandit FM, NBN and The Northern Star.

Go to rusty.com.au and click on the gromfest button…

The count down is on for the start of the Rusty Gromfest, some good conditions have been forecasted, check out Coastalwatch’s cam at the Lennox beachies where the comp is usually held – http://www.coastalwatch.com/camera/cameras_large.aspx?cam=2300&state=NSW&t=7:59:41%20PM&camName=Lennox%20Head%20Beach

See ya soon!

Gromfest confirmation letters have been posted, keep your eye out for them.

LATE WITHDRAWALS – Please Read
If anyone who has entered is injured, sick or can’t make the comp please email contest organiser Max Perrot on 0427 875 066

Good luck, see you soon….

The Rusty Gromfest is back on and in its 14th year. Gromfest is the most prestigious 16 and under boys and girls surfing event in the world and to take down a Gromfest title opens a world of opportunities such as its done for past winners like Mick Fanning & Steph Gilmore.

Gromfest 2009 is set to take on a new challenge with a change to the event’s format.  Contest organisers have taken a leaf out of the ASP “Event Handbook” and will adopt the same theory as the ASP.  World Tour events are changing their formats to shorter events to fit in with available swell cycles, the primary reason for the change as it greatly improves the odds of good surf throughout the comp. The Rusty Gromfest 2009 will run for 3 days with a 5 day waiting period from the 10th to the 14th of July to maximise the best possible conditions for competitors. The contest format of running 2 simultaneous heats on 2 separate banks will remain the same with the finals being held on one bank.

Entries are now closed – see you at the event!