Premier Divisions Soar Into Action On Day 2 Of The Rip Curl Gromsearch Phillip Island Presented By Bass Coast Shire Council

With the large, lumpy SW swell still hitting the Island, Day 2 of the Rip Curl GromSearch Phillip Island, presented by Bass Coast Shire Council, returned to Smiths Beach where 2-3 foot A-frame peaks greeted the older divisions. 

The Under 16 Boys division kicked off the competition, with high-performance surfing impressing both the judges and spectators. From the start, innovation was on the competitors’ minds, with Mitchell Henderson (Port Noarlunga, SA) winning his heat with a 6.33-point ride for a backhand air reverse.

Max McGillivray (Evans Head, NSW) delivered a masterclass performance in his opening round heat. McGillivray started strong, executing a solid two-turn combo that earned him a 7.83-point ride. Staying active in the lineup, he quickly picked up several more waves, with his second scoring ride coming from a massive forehand layback. This powerful manoeuvre earned him a 7.23, comfortably securing him the heat win.

To cap off an incredible performance, McGillivray caught his final wave in the last minute, launching into the air and completing a spectacular air reverse. This impressive display of innovation put the rest of the field on notice, as McGillivray set a new standard for the competition.

“My game plan was not to wait too long for set waves, just get the ball rolling, and it went pretty well,” stated McGillivray.  

“After that first wave, it gave me a lot of confidence and freed me up to go for some bigger stuff,” he added.  

“That air reverse felt pretty good. I’ve been trying them heaps at home and just started to click with them, so it felt really good to land that one in a heat!”

Isla Huppatz (Bilinga, QLD) showcased her flair and strength in the Under 18 Girls division with a quick and powerful approach to the waves. Huppatz started strong, finding a right-hand runner that allowed for two powerful carves and a finishing tail slide. This excellent combination of manoeuvres earned her a 7.50-point ride. However, she couldn’t sit on that score with Ocea Curtis (Lennox Head, NSW) and Sarah Seuren (Inverloch, VIC) actively hunting down the points needed to take the lead.

Huppatz later backed up her score with a one-turn wave, giving her a combined total of 10.53 points.

“It was definitely a lot of paddling out there, but there were still a couple of fun ones,” Huppatz said.  

“My first wave was good because it took a lot of pressure off, and then when I was paddling back out, I knew I didn’t need too much to get into first, so I just tried to get a back-up as quick as I could,” Huppatz continued.  

“It’s good surfing with everyone. I’m good friends with Ocea Curtis and Sarah Seuren. When I used to live down here, I used to surf against Sarah heaps in the state titles, so it was good to surf against her again.”

Later in the day, the Under 18 Girls Quarterfinals hit the water, with Huppatz picking up where she left off, surfing her way to a spot in the Semifinals. With plenty of energy left in reserve, she looks like the one to beat heading forward.

In the Under 18 Boys division, Landen Smales (Noosa Heads, QLD) earned the Surf Better Now Wave of the Day for an incredible backhand attack. Smales picked off a long, peeling left-hand wave, belting the lip multiple times before finishing with a big fin release. The judges loved his approach to the conditions and rewarded him with an 8.00-point ride.

With the swell dropping and winds staying light, Cape Woolamai Beach is on the cards for Day 3 of the competition. The official call will be made in the morning with all updates to 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.