North Wall turns it on for Gromfest
Ballina’s North Wall once again proved a reliable back-up location as the Rusty Gromfest got under way a day late today.
After yesterday’s lay-day because of flat conditions and greeted with little swell at the favoured venue of Lennox Head, organisers switched the event to Ballina. North Wall, as it always does, picked up more swell than anywhere today and over 300 of Australia and the world’s best 16 and under boy and girl surfers were super stoked today with perfect 1 to 1.5m surf greeting them.
The break was the ideal venue with dual banks serving up fantastic clean surf as the 16 and under and 14 and under Boys divisions surfed through their round one heats.
The quality of this year’s field was highlighted in the opening heat of the 16 Boys with local favourite Garrett Parkes (Byron Bay) tearing into numerous excellent waves to take a huge heat win against talented New Zealand surfer Matt Hewitt ,who placed second to also advance in the four-man heat. Parkes recently won the World Under-16 surfing title in Portugal, where Hewitt placed third, and these two are developing a healthy rivalry.
Parkes is building a superb junior record and is a previous winner of the Rusty in the 14 year division. After his heat win today Parkes commented on the importance of this title, saying: “I’d love to win another Rusty title.
“It has incredible history with great surfers like Mick Fanning and Julian Wilson winning it and it’s just an awesome event. Last year I was sick with an ear infection and didn’t do so well but hopefully this year will be better for me.
“The waves are great today and it’s looking good with great swells so I’m looking forward to the coming days. It’s a stacked quality field and no heat is easy.”
Parkes posted the day’s equal highest single wave score with a 9.5 out of a possible 10 ride.
Sunshine Coast surfers were also in good form today. Currimundi’s Paul McGregor was last year awarded the Emerging Surfer award at the Rusty and he showed good form today, easily progressing to round two of the 16 Boys.
Satisfied with his result today, McGregor said: “The Rusty is probably the most important event for all us young surfers and I’d love to do well here. Last year I made the semi-finals so I’ll be aiming at the finals this year and to win would be a dream. The waves are just how I like them so maybe I’ll do really well!”
Noosa Heads surfer Jackson Winter was also impressive in the 16 Boys winning through to round two. “I have been a quarter-finalist here but I’m hoping for a bigger result this year, especially in these types of waves. A win is what I’d love,” he said.
Other standouts today included Davey Cathels (Narrabeen), Matt Baldock (Margaret River), Jake Sylvester (Newcastle), Jordi Watson (Currarong) and Harrison Mann (Torquay).
Also obvious today were some of the overseas competitors here with Tahiti’s Enrique Aritu particularly impressive, posting an excellent 9.35 ride to easily win his heat in the Boys 14 division, and Peru surfer Carlos Zapata, who also posted two excellent wave scores to easily win his round one heat .
Late in the day West Australian surfer Creed McTaggart (Margaret River) took the day’s highest scoring heat tally with two outstanding rides, a 9.5 and a 9.25 to take an impressive win.
“I’m keen to win here. Last week I performed badly on the Gold Coast so today’s heat was good for my confidence and I feel good again about my surfing,” he said.
PICTURE: Creed McTaggart clocks up one of his high-scoring rides at North Wall, Ballina, today. Picture courtesy of Surfing Australia.
