After excellent results at the final event of the 2024 Rip Curl GromSearch series, the Rip Curl GromSearch Seal Point presented by Sea Harvest, Rory Dace (Cape St Francis) and Louise Lepront (Scottburgh) emerged victorious in the series rankings.

The prize—a trip to Bali for the Rip Curl Global Finals—was sponsored by Zigzag Magazine, supported by The Royal St Andrews Hotel and Sea Harvest.

Zigzag Magazine has long been a proud supporter of grom surfing in South Africa and was thrilled to sponsor the Bali trip. The rankings were decided based on the top four out of five contests in the national series, including events in Cape Town, Durban, East London, Port Alfred, and Seal Point.

Rory Dace, Seal Point © Kai Wulff

The GromSearch International Final – A Launchpad for Champions

Established in 1999, the GromSearch International Final has been a proving ground for future surfing superstars, including Caroline Marks, Steph Gilmore, and Gabriel Medina. Finalists also receive mentorship from world-class athletes like Stephanie Gilmore and Molly Picklum during the event.

Mark Flanagan, Rip Curl Sports Marketing Manager, says, "The GromSearch International Final is more than a competition; it's a celebration of the next generation of surfers and the vibrant community that supports them. With the help of Sun Bum, we're excited to bring this event to Bali, a place renowned for its phenomenal waves and rich surfing culture. This is where future champions are made."

Preparation for Bali

Rory Dace is hard at work preparing for the event:
"I'm doing a lot of training and surfing daily. I'm getting two new boards for Bali, and I'm going to get them dialled in before the comp so I'm at my peak performance. I'm super amped to put on some boardies and hop into the warm water."

Louise Lepront is equally dedicated:
"I'm hitting the gym as much as possible to build muscle so I can throw more power into my turns," she says.

Louise Lepront, © Kai Wulff

Excitement and Expectations

While the goal of any surf competition is to win, Bali offers an entirely new world of experiences for these young surfers.
"My goal for the global event is to have a good time, make new friends, and get a good result," says Dace. "This will let people know that the young generation of South Africa has high potential."

Lepront is also looking forward to her first trip to Bali:
"I cannot wait to go, make new friends, and surf good waves in warm water."

The Rip Curl GromSearch Global Finals will be covered by Zigzag Magazine, with support from Sea Harvest, The Royal St Andrews Hotel, and Surfing South Africa.

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Rory Dace and Louise Lepront Prepare for the Rip Curl GromSearch Global Final in Bali With Zigzag Mag

Two rising stars of South African surfing, Rory Dace and Louise Lepront, are ready for Bali’s waves at the Rip Curl GromSearch Global Final. Good luck to both surfers!

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