GROMS TO HAVE A BLAST AT SURF COMP
THE chance to paddle out in some warmer water was enough to entice three Barwon Heads youngsters to head north for a four-day surfing competition.
Up and coming surfers Jerry Kelly, 11, Joel Bartley, 10, and Remy Roberts, 13, will join 332 other groms from across Australia on Sydney’s northern beaches at the Hurley BL’s Blast Off from today to Friday.
This year will be Jerry’s fourth time at the event, where surfers get the chance to be coached by world champion Barton Lynch.
The kids all compete, but after each heat are shown replays of their performances and given tips for next time.
“It’s fun with the other groms and Barton Lynch is there and it is warmer water,” Jerry said.
“I’ve made heaps of friends, we stay at their houses when we go up there for competitions and they come stay at ours too.”
With dreams of one day surfing against the world’s best, Jerry has already competed on waves in every state in Australia after first finding his feet at Thirteenth Beach.
His father Paul said the coaching from the Blast Off event had extended to improving attitudes and body language as well as riding skills.
The event was first held in 2006, where Tyler Wright won the under-14 girls title, a decade before she would win her first of two world titles.
While Jerry said he would like to make it to the professional tour down the track, he said he was just looking forward to catching up with his mates this week.
“I like making friends, you get to meet a lot of people,” he said.
“(Surfing) keeps you fit and healthy.”