Bali, Indonesia – The Rip Curl GromSearch International Final 2024, covered by Sun Bum, kicked off on Tuesday, November 12th, bringing together top young surfers from around the world to celebrate the future of surfing. Rory Dace (Cape St Francis) and Louise Lepront (Scottburgh) proudly represent South Africa, having secured their spots by winning the 2024 Rip Curl GromSearch Series in South Africa.

A Colourful Balinese Opening Ceremony

The event opened with a vibrant traditional Balinese ceremony, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Athletes were presented with custom rash vests featuring their names, marking the beginning of a week dedicated to showcasing the best of global youth surfing talent.

Seeding Round and the Search for Waves

Day 1 of the competition (Wednesday, November 13th) began with an early mission to find uncrowded waves for the seeding round. Event Director Harrison Mann made the call to proceed with a non-elimination format. The waves, measuring 2-3 feet, provided perfect right-handers for surfers to demonstrate their skills. “It was worth the gamble today,” said Mann. “We scored some super fun waves with no one around. The standard of surfing was insane, and today was just a sneak peek of the fireworks we have in store for Friday and Saturday at Pererenan Beach.”

High-Profile Judging Panel

A prestigious judging panel, including 8-time world champion Stephanie Gilmore, Olympian Molly Picklum, and former WCT surfer Rosy Hodge, evaluated the seeding round. The focus was on scoring the athletes' best waves, with many memorable performances setting the tone for the rest of the week.

Standout Performances

The Girls 16 & Under division saw incredible backhand surfing from the goofy-footers. Louise Lepront (ZAF) and Jasmine Studer (IDN) impressed with their tight backhand snaps. Jasmine achieved the highest girls' score of the day, a 7.77, for two powerful backhand re-entries.

In the U16 Boys division, Lukas Skinner showcased an impressive combination of rail work and aerial manoeuvres, earning the first "excellent" score of the day, an 8.17, for a lofty air reverse. The final seeding round featured spectacular action, with Lucas Cassity earning an 8.33 for a massive air manoeuvre and Dylan Donegan scoring a day-high 9.0 for a mix of powerful rail turns and aerials.

All-Star Tag-Team Competition

The day concluded with a thrilling all-star tag-team event. Stephanie Gilmore, Molly Picklum, and Rosy Hodge led their respective teams in a 50-minute, 6-surfer heat with a double whammy surfer to finish. Aditya Somiya (IDN) stole the show for Team Rosy with an 8.5 for three critical turns, securing the team victory with 45.75 points. Team Steph finished second with 41.65, and Team Molly placed third with 30.75.

Looking Ahead to Round 1

Round 1 kicks off tomorrow at Pererenan Beach at 7 a.m., starting with the Girls’ division. The forecast predicts clean 3-foot waves, providing the young athletes with an excellent stage to showcase their skills.

Stay updated on all the action through LiveHeats and tune in to the live broadcast for finals day on YouTube. Don’t miss the first episode of Rip Curl GromSearch International Final 2024 on YouTube as well.

Sponsors and Support

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

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The Rip Curl GromSearch International Final Begins!
Young surfing stars shine in Bali as the 2024 competition kicks off with perfect waves!

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