The Fiji Times

Surfers gear up for Micro Grommet Series

- Compiled by IAN PORTINGALE

IT is back again to the Hot Bread Kitchen Micro Grommet Series which starts this Saturday, August 24 at Natadola Beach.

The grommet friendly event is necessary in the developmen­t of Fiji surfing. The series is now into its fourth year and several past competitor­s have gone on to represente­d Fiji at the ISA World Junior titles.

Divisions are under-14, U12 and U10 boys and girls. Normally 50 enthusiast­ic kids along with the parents and guardians are in attendance.

Competitio­n kicks off at 10.30am and concludes at 3pm. Round 2 of the series is on October 5 at Natadola.

Please help us to promote this grassroots event and support our sponsors of the series; Hot Bread Kitchen and McDonald’s

USA’s 11-time world champion Kelly Slater and Australia’s seven times world champion Stephanie Gilmore will headline the elite talent that has been confirmed to represent their nations so far at the 2019 ISA World Surfing Games (WSG) presented by Vans September 7-15 in Miyazaki, Japan.

Other WCT surfers who have confirmed their attendance are Australian­s Julian Wilson, Sally Fitzgibbon and Owen Wright, Hawaiian Carissa Moore, USA’s Courtney Conlogue, and Caroline Marks. From France Jeremy Flores, Johanne Defay, Joan Duru and Michel Bourez. Brazil will have Gabriel Medina and Filie Toledo.

Jordy Smith will headline a powerful team from South Africa along with Bianca Buitendag. In all 45 countries are expected to attend this Olympics selection event.

Team FIJI is sending a full team and our surfers believe they could provide the upsets required to gain Olympics selection. Our 6-person team of Hannah Bennett, Kim Bennett, Kayla Wakeham, Inia Nakalevu, Kalani Wakeham and Api Tibinaliva has been training hard on their fitness and technique adjustment­s to suit the soft small surf of Japan. Our teams powerful styles need to adjust to surf that is unfamiliar to their normal environmen­t.

Competitio­n starts on September 6 to 15 at Miyazaki, Japan.

 ?? Picture: FSA ?? Young surfers who took part in the Fiji Surfing Micro Grommet Series last year.
Picture: FSA Young surfers who took part in the Fiji Surfing Micro Grommet Series last year.

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