The Swell Arrives In Time At Mount Maunganui

Day One of the Billabong Grom Series presented by Oceanbridge was filled with action both on the water and on land today (Saturday 4th February) with New Zealand's best young surfers making the most of a sunny day at Mount Maunganui.

The surf built throughout the day to a decent 1.0m with sea breeze winds.

Local surfer Kehu Butler obliterated his heats today and as predicted will be the surfer to watch at the event. Surfing in two divisions, Butler won two from two heats today and in doing do, posted the highest heat score of the day - 15.0 points out of 20. The only thing stopping the young surfer from entering all three divisions was a full draw in the Under 16 Boys Division but he made the most of his opportunities anyway as he gears up for a big final day tomorrow (Sunday 5th February).

"I think I surfed pretty well for the conditions. I am pretty stoked with my scores anyway" said a modest Butler still dripping wet from his surf. "I love surfing comps here, it saves us travelling around the country. Heaps more support from the family too, they have been down here all day, I am pretty lucky with all the support they have given me and my sister too."

Butler made quick work of his Under 12 Boys heat eventually progressing alongside Jared Gebert (Ohope) who finished the heat in second place. In his Under 14 Boys heat Butler moved through to the quarterfinals alongside Ben McCulloch (Gis) and the two surfers will now meet the top seeds of the division. And indeed Butler will meet the top seed drawing Manu Scott - Arrieta (Sandy Bay) in the quarters.

"I am looking forward to surfing against Manu again. Hopefully I can beat him this time after he beat me at the National Champs."

Tane Bowden (WGM) was equally as impressive surfing to an 11.67 point heat total after executing some smooth surfing and big forehand turns. Bowden at only ten years of age has another year left in the Under 12 Boys Division. Despite his age he still hopes it is bigger for the final day of the event. "Whanga is four foot today so I am missing out on home a bit but it is fun out there, I am just amped to surf tomorrow."

Today however, Bowden posted single wave scores of 5.67 and 5.50 with the young surfer hoping to "compress through his turns more tomorrow" and "do what my Dad tells me to do."

Luke Griffin (Mnt), yet another local, was the winner of the third quarterfinal of the Under 12 Boys Division. Griffin progressed through to the semifinals alongside Sam Copley (Piha), one part of two sets of twins competing at the event this weekend.

The Under 16 Boys kicked off the day over the full tide in the morning. Under 14 Boys National Champion Manu Scott - Arrieta (Sandy Bay) surfed up a division and impressed everyone on the beach with his strong backhand turns as he went on a rampage to win his heat posting the highest heat score of the round - 13.4 out of 20 points.

The young Northland surfer has oozed confidence since winning back-to-back national titles in the Under 14 Boys Division and he will be amped to surf in the quarterfinals as well as his usual Under 14 Boys Division tomorrow. Scott - Arrieta was joined by fellow Northland surfers Matt McGregor (Whangarei) and Joe Palmer (Kerikeri) and Sergio Hansen (Kaitaia) who all progressed through to the quarterfinals.

Elliot Paerata - Reid (Piha) was another surfer who dominated the round picking up a 13.0 point heat total in the challenging small waves. Other heat wins came from Caleb Braithwaite (Whakatane), Mckenzie Bowden (WGM), Jordan Griffin (Mnt), Dune Kennings (WGM) and Mahorahora McLeod (Tara).

Late in the day the girls divisions hit the water in the best conditions of the day. Jasmine Smith (Gis) got the crowd going with cheers and clapping from the sand dunes after surfing the best wave of the day completing a series of backhand turns to score a 7.67 point ride. She didn't stop there getting wave after wave to easily move through to the final of the Under 16 Girls Division. She will be joined by Gabriela Sansom (Auck), Dayna Story (Gis) and Claudia Fraser (Piha) in the final.

The Billabong Grom Series presented by Oceanbridge encompasses crazy land based activities such as the horizontal bungy and slam dunk set up to keep everyone amused. Spot prizes added delight to many young groms with some walking away with the latest Skinny cell phones as well as prizes from Sony and others.

The Billabong Grom Series presented by Oceanbridge awards five surfers airfares to Australia and entry into one of Australia's elite events for those that win their respective divisions.

Set out below are results from day one of the first event of the Billabong grom Series presented by Oceanbridge held at Mount Maunganui today (Saturday 4th February).

Under 16 Boys Round 1
Heat 1
Mahorahora McLeod (Waitara), 8.7, 1, Te Rapai Barbarich Love, 7.67, 2, Taylor Hutchison (Rag), 3.83, 3, Morgan Munroe (Waiheke Is), 2.47, 4
Heat 2
Manu Scott Arrieta (Sandy Bay), 13.4, 1, Matt Hansen (Mnt), 10.6, 2, Harrison Whiteside (ChCh), 6.2, 3, Harrison Mossop (Tau), 4.2, 4
Heat 3
Jordan Griffin (Mnt), 10.6, 1, Sergio Hansen (Ahipara), 8.33, 2, Toa Macdonald (Waitara), 6.77, 3, Zane Hicks (Ocean Beach), 0, 4
Heat 4
Dune Kennings (Whmata), 12.5, 1, Nick Mason (Mnt), 7.77, 2, Daniel Farr (Tara), 6.5, 3, Tom Mason (auck), 5.47, 4
Heat 5
Elliot Paerata - Reid (Piha), 13, 1, Kayden Mayes (Tau), 8.17, 2, Taine Ranga (Waihi Beach), 5.7, 3, Quin Matenga (Mnt), 5.3, 4
Heat 6
Caleb Braithwaite (Whtane), 7.47, 1, Jack Mills (BOP), 7.3, 2, Ryan Renall (Mangawhai), 4.6, 3, Riccardo Lucibella (Tara), 3.93, 4
Heat 7
McKenzie Bowden (Whmata), 11.7, 1, Isaac Kettle (Tara), 9.6, 2, Bryn Marshall (Ohope), 8.67, 3, Campbell Ivory (Tairua), 4.17, 4
Heat 8
Matt McGreggor (Whngrei), 8.57, 1, Joe Palmer (Whngrei), 6, 2, Callum Chuter (Tau), 5.23, 3, Joseph Parr (Coro), 1.4, 4


Under 14 Boys Round 1
Heat 1
Kehu Butler (Mnt), 12.7, 1, Ben McCulloch (Gis), 8.03, 2, Max Dicken (Auck), 3.23, 3
Heat 2
Kalani Hansen (Ahipara), 5, 1, Sam Copley (Piha), 3.53, 2, Thomas Dixon-Smith (Gis), 2.37, 3, Henry Copley (Piha), 1.97, 4
Heat 3
Jonas Tawharu (Mnt), 7.73, 1, Tane Bowden (WGM), 7.7, 2, Zac Curle (Katikati), 5.17, 3
Heat 4
Harry Macintosh (Waiheke Is), 6, 1, Lee Ririnui (Mnt), 4.7, 2, Reuben Mottart (Gis), 3.73, 3


Under 12 Boys Round 1
Heat 1
Luke Griffin (Mt), 8.33, 1, Sam Copley (Piha), 5.1, 2, Kelly Haven (Mur), 2.87, 3, Henry Copley (Piha), 2.5, 4
Heat 2
Kehu Butler (Mnt), 15, 1, Jared Gebert (Ohope), 5.87, 2, Lee Ririnui (Mnt), 5.13, 3, Thomas Carter (Rag), 2.03, 4
Heat 3
Tane Bowden (Whmata), 11.2, 1, William Barnes (Mt), 6.83, 2, Lockie O'Connor (Mnt), 3.23, 3, Reef Newdick (Mnt), 2.2, 4

Please see below for dates of the final two events:

Billabong Grom Series pres by Oceanbridge Event 2 - 11th - 12th February, Whangamata
Billabong Grom Series pres by Oceanbridge Event 3 - 10th - 11th March, Piha Beach, Auckland

Entry into the events can be completed at Surfing New Zealand under events.

Further Information
For further information on the 2012 Billabong Grom Series presented by Oceanbridge please contact Surfing New Zealand's Ben Kennings on 021 2278732 or email benkennings@surfingnz.co.nz. Alternatively contact Billabong Event Manager AJ Matthews on 0212416227 or email aj.matthews@billabong.co.nz.