31 March 2005

East Londoner Nikita Robb outclassed a field of top junior surfers to win the inaugural Rip Curl GromSearch International Final at Bells Beach in Australia at the weekend.

Reigning ASP Africa Pro Junior champ Jordan Smith from Durban was defeated by Hawaiian Mason Ho to finish second in the boys' final.

The prestigious international tournament involved the best invited under-16 division surfers from Rip Curl GromSearch events held in South Africa, Brazil, Indonesia, America, New Zealand, Australia and Britain.

"It was such an inspiration to watch the Rip Curl Pro WCT just before our GromSearch Final, especially when I saw Sophia Mulanovich win the event", said 16-year-old Robb, who placed eleventh in the 2004 ISA World Surfing Games held in Tahiti.

'I really had to win'
"When I went into my final, I paddled out thinking that it didn't really matter if I won, but after taking my second wave all I could think of was the joy on Sophia's face. I knew then that I really had to win.

"Surfing in this event has been a highlight in my life", Robb said. "I would like to thank Rip Curl, and especially Mike Larmont, for this opportunity as I intend to make this a stepping stone for my future dream to become World Champion."

She took the title ahead of Australian Mischa Davis, Brazilian Bruna Shmitz and US surfer Lexi Papillion.

Rip Curl South Africa's Mike Larmont said: "My first reaction to the exciting news was one of pride that a South African girl, who was relatively unknown, could take on the world's best grommets and come out on top. This has got to be a great omen for the future of girls' surfing in our country."

Tough competition
In the boys' final, Smith provided tough competition for eventual winner Hawaiian Mason Ho, son of legendary surfer Michael Ho, by matching him wave for wave.

Ho kick-started his final campaign with a confident 7.25 ride in the messy Bells Beach swell. Smith all but levelled with Ho when he posted a 7.00. He followed that up with a ride of 5.00 to take the heat lead.

Matt Wilkinson, the current under-16 world champion, and Carlo Zampiere both tried to stamp their authority on the heat, but struggled to get high-scoring waves in the tricky Bells Beach swell.

Ho, however, sat patiently at Rincon and picked off the best set wave for a second time, belting his way down the line and posting a heat-high score of 8.25.

Smith stayed in touch and drew closer to Ho with a 6.00 and then a 6.25 late in the final. His efforts weren't enough, however, as his 13.25 two-wave combined score fell short of Ho's 15.50.

"It is ironic that in a previous press article Jordy mentioned that he did not want to get anything less than first place", Larmont said. "One could attribute his second place to the fact that the ocean did not come to the party for him during his final, but collectively the South Africans made a huge impression."

The Rip Curl GromSearch events in South Africa are aimed at identifying and developing emerging junior talent along the country's coastline. The first 2005 Rip Curl GromSearch event takes place in Cape Town on 9 April.

Girls' GromSearch International Final Results

	Nikita Robb beat the world's best to land the 2005 Rip Curl GromSearch International title

	Surf's up for township kids

	Rip Curl International Gromsearch  Wavescape  ASP Africa