When you visit our website, we store cookies on your browser to collect information. The information collected might relate to you, your preferences or your device, and is mostly used to make the site work as you expect it to and to provide a more personalized web experience. However, you can choose not to allow certain types of cookies, which may impact your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer. Click on the different category headings to find out more and change our default settings according to your preference.
These cookies are essential to enable user movement across our website and for providing access to features such as your profile. These cookies cannot be disabled. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable information and cannot be used for marketing purposes.
These cookies allow us to analyze visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site and enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers, such as Google Analytics, whose services we have added to our pages. Information collected through these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly and/or we will not know when you have visited our site, and will not be able to monitor its performance.
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly.
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts or content. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
These cookies are set by a range of social media services that we have added to the site to enable you to share our content with your friends and networks. They are capable of tracking your browser across other sites and building up a profile of your interests. This may impact the content and messages you see on other websites you visit. If you do not allow these cookies you may not be able to use or see these sharing tools.
Blue Ribbon Division Lights Up Skullcandy Oz Grom Open
WSL
The World Surf League Junior Qualifying Series (JQS) division of the Skullcandy Oz Grom Open presented by Coolridge kicked off Sunday, July 5, dishing out plenty of big scores and upsets keeping the crowd of surf fans at Lennox Head entertained during the full day of surf action.
Current Australasian JQS rankings leader Kai Hing (Wurtulla, Qld) managed to just keep his Skullcandy Oz Grom Open dream alive performing some last minute heroics to sneak into second position behind Quinn Bruce (Sunshine Beach, Qld) who held down a convincing lead over the entirety of the heat. Only requiring a small score in the dying seconds of the heat, Hing unloaded an impressive two-turn combination to post the required score and move into the progressing position.
"I'm feeling so relieved after that heat," Hing said. "I saw Quinn getting waves down the other end of the bank, but when I went down there I only got two three-point waves so I had to paddle back to where I was sitting originally and try to get a score. Luckily, I saw a little one in the dying seconds, so I just paddled my heart out and managed to get the five-points I needed to get into second spot. I knew I had to hunt down whatever was coming through."
Local surfer Zac Wightman (Lennox Head, NSW) had the hometown crowd on their feet posting an excellent 9.17 wave score (out of a possible 10 points) taking out the top spot in his first round heat. Wightman will now face Kael Walsh (Yallingup, WA), Kai Hing (Wurtulla, Qld) and Mitchell Parkinson (Coolangatta, Qld) tomorrow.
"I haven't had a heat like that in a long time, so it felt good to get some mojo back," said Wightman. "Seeing faces you know as you run down for your heat is such a good feeling before you paddle out. I actually thought I was too deep on that wave I got a 9.17 on, but it held its line for me fortunately and just rang nicely along the bank."
Mitch Parkinson (Coolangatta, Qld) and Sandon Whittaker (Avoca, NSW) caused one of the biggest upsets of the event so far knocking out Kalani Ball (Stanwell Park, NSW). While Parkinson sat uninterrupted on wider righthanders, Whittaker opted to sit close to Ball as he attempted to find the required 5.77 wave score. In the process, Parkinson managed to post a massive 9.3 wave score to put his fellow competitors on the ropes, while Whittaker managed to get the upper hand against Ball, claiming the runner-up position.
"I knew from the get-go that there could have been a few hassles for waves," said Parkinson. "Sandon (Whitaker) got the inside position a couple of times, so I simply decided to move down the bank a bit and save my frustration. Seeing Kalani (Ball) get knocked out doesn't really put my mind at ease at all, every heat here is tough and you need to really blow up to progress through."
Shane Campbell (Cronulla, NSW) and Morgan Ciblic (Merewether, NSW) went blow-for-blow in their opening Pro Junior heat, with both surfers trading off a series of excellent scores, which consequently left their fellow heat surfers on the ropes chasing a combination of scores to move into a progressing position. When the final hooter sounded, both Ciblic and Campbell had notched up heat totals in excess of 15.00 points (out of a possible 20 points) and earned their spot into tomorrow's second round.
"I'm just happy to get that heat over and done with to be honest. It's always a good feeling to get the first heat out of the way," said Campbell. "I've been working on my forehand a lot with my coach Matt Griggs and it's an area of my surfing I've been giving a lot of attention."
Competition will commence each day at 7:30am with the call for the days schedule and location confirmed via the event hotline at 6:45am. The event hotline is 0458 247 212.
The six-day event will see over 300 competitors duke it out in under-12, under-14 and under-16 divisions as well as a prestigious WSL JQS event.
All event divisions will be broadcast live on skullcandyozgromopen.com.au.
The Skullcandy Oz Grom Open presented by Coolridge is proudly supported by Skullcandy, Coolridge, Ballina Shire Council, Le-Ba Boardriders, Surfing NSW and World Surf League.
Skullcandy Oz Grom Open
Cody Robinson reigns supreme at Lennox Head
The second last day of the event saw improved surf and solid scores as coveted finals spots were on the line.
Only one Top 10 JQS surfer remains in draw at Lennox Head.
Lennox Head set to host next event on WSL Australasia JQS.
World's best juniors return to Lennox Head in 2015.
News
Hydralyte to continue as ‘Official Oral Rehydration Partner' of WSL Australia -- Hydralyte champions its mental health promotion by
Visit SLO CAL brings 3,000 Pivotal Points back to QS Contingent, Fresh Start for Pro Juniors
2025 WSL Rising Tides
A high-performance display laid down the standard in 2024 and now the formidable fields of North America's contenders return January 20 -
From Taj Lindblad's insatiable form to Talia Swindal's winning wave, 2024 had plenty of jaw-dropping moments. Here's a few from the QS 3000