8 June 2007

Young South African surfer Beyrick de Vries recorded his third victory in succession in the USA at the weekend, comfortably winning the Rip Curl GromSearch at Pacific Beach Drive in San Diego.

It was cloudy overhead, but the 14-year-old shone in the surf, exhibiting grab-rail air reverses, fins-free boardslides and fin hucks in outperforming his competition.

National final
The victory earned De Vries an invitation to the National Rip Curl final, a mobile phone from the sponsors, Boost, and a free day at Disneyland with VIP treatment.

"I'm really stoked with the result," said De Vries, with his new mobile phone in hand. "There was a great vibe at the event, and I'm looking forward to the National Final this November, with that chance to win the trip to Bells!"

He added: "I feel that I have stepped up a level during this tour and I cannot wait to come back to compete in the US National Rip Curl Gromsearch in November."

Competing outside his division
During the course of the competition, De Vries also discovered that he had been competing outside of his division. "I found out that I am allowed to surf in the under-14 division because my birthday is in December - and you have to be 14 before the first of January - and all this time I have been competing in the U16 division!" he exclaimed.

Before returning home to Umhlanga, De Vries has two more competitions to surf in California. He will have only a two week break in sunny South Africa, however, before he flies off to France to compete in the under-16 section of the International Quiksilver Gromsearch in CapBreton at the end of July.

With three wins on the trot, De Vries' confidence is sky-high that he can continue on his winning ways.

SouthAfrica.info reporter

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	Beyrick de Vries in action and on his way to victory

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	Rip Curl Gromsearch  Wavescape

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