Coast to play host to surf’s Next Gen
SOME of the top micro-grommets from across the state will descend on the Gold Coast over the next few days as they eye success at the eighth leg of the 2019-20 Grom Comps series.
Running on Wednesday and Thursday, the second and final Queensland leg of the series will feature divisions from under-8 mixed through to under-14 boys and girls events.
Among the hopefuls will be Landen Smales (Noosa Heads) and the Gold Coast’s own Jordy Halford (Currumbin), who won the under-14 boys and girls events respectively at the Sunshine Coast leg in mid-December.
Regarded as one of the major stepping stones in the development of young Australian surfers, the 10-event Groms Comps series includes legs in six states and has helped launch the careers of many of the country’s top
juniors. With almost 800 children taking part in the 2019-20 series, Surfing Queensland chief executive Adam Yates said he was keen to watch the stars of the future in action on the Coast in the coming days.
“This is an extremely important series for the younger generation of surfers in Queensland,” Yates said.
“For some, this will be their first time competing and we can’t wait to see them start their competitive journey next week.”
The long-range surf forecast shows a 2-3ft easterly swell arriving on the Gold Coast in time for the event, along with easterly winds.
The winners of the under-14 boys and girls divisions from each event receive an invite to attend an all-expenses-paid, three-day camp at Surfing Australia’s High-Performance Centre.
Adding to the high stakes at the camps are the PIC’s Peanut Butter Pathway Performers, which are awarded to one surfer at each camp and include a $1000 prize.