Day 1 Of The Rip Curl Gromsearch Phillip Island Presented By Bass Coast Shire Council Commences With Impressive Performances At Smiths Beach

Day 1 of the Rip Curl GromSearch Phillip Island, presented by Bass Coast Shire Council, kicked off with outstanding surfing on display in the opening rounds. Under clear blue skies and a rising swell, the competition was relocated to Smiths Beach, which provided perfect 2-foot lefts and rights for the Under 14 divisions to tear apart. The best young surfers from across the country hit the water, making their mark on the first day of competition.

Kade Kelly (Newcastle, NSW) showcased his skills early on, locking in a 6-point ride with powerful backhand snaps. Kelly was relentless in the water, catching 8 waves across both lefts and rights. His innovative flair was also on display with a smooth tail drift on a forehand snap, earning him a combined score of 10.33 points and a spot in Round 2.

Kai Coleman (Sunshine Coast, QLD) also made a strong statement, starting with a 6.50 for a series of large backhand snaps that put him ahead of his fellow competitors. He displayed impressive speed and precision as he continued to hunt down left-handers, backing up his opening ride with a 4.67 for a clean two-turn combo.

With 10 minutes remaining, the heat was still wide open, with Omar Moltzen (Boomerang Beach, NSW) close behind with a 5-point ride. However, Coleman sealed his victory in the final 5 minutes, landing three major backhand snaps on a larger set wave to score a 7.00 point ride, the highest of the round. His combined total of 13.50 points secured him the heat win.

“My game plan was to sit out the back and catch those sets that have a longer wall so I can get more turns in,” Coleman stated.  

“It’s been so cool surfing the different waves down here,” he continued.  

“It will be sick to surf Woolamai on that little ripbowl bank later in the week.”  

“It was a super fun heat; everyone tried their best and had their game plan, so there was some good surfing going on.”

The Under 14 Girls division took to the water around midday, with competitors battling increasing winds but refusing to let the challenging conditions hinder their performance. A large crowd gathered to witness the action as the young surfers showcased their skills.

In one of the final heats of Round 1, Stevie O’Day (Torquay, VIC) impressed the judges and the crowd by tackling the tricky lineup with determination. Scouring the waves for the ideal left-hander, O’Day found one with enough wall to land two rapid backhand hits, earning her a solid 5.67-point ride.

Filled with motivation, O’Day continued to search for opportunities on the outside. Paddling into a larger set, she smoothly zig-zagged along the wave’s face being rewarded with a 4.13 point ride from the judges. With a combined total of 9.80 points, O’Day secured the heat win and advanced confidently to the next round.

“I wanted to get a big left peeler at Smiths because it had two or three turn options, and that’s what the judges were looking for,” said O’Day.  

“It was really good being out there with everyone, but I wanted to go for the big ones while they were looking for the little ones, so it was a little hard because I didn’t know if I was too far out,” O’Day added.

Another exciting day of competition is expected for Day 2, with the location and schedule to be announced. All updates will be posted on Surfing Victoria’s social media channels and the competitors’ WhatsApp group.

Live scores and schedule can be found via www.surfingvic.com/live

Rip Curl GromSearch Phillip Island presented by Bass Coast Shire Council and supported by the Victorian Government Significant Sporting Events program, Park Lane Phillip Island, Cancer Council Sunscreen, GoPro, SurfBetterNow.com and Surfing Victoria.