Groms enjoy clean surf to start season

TORQUAY Boardriders Club (TBC) has kicked off its junior aggregate season with its first groms event of the year.

Young local surfers enjoyed some of the best surfing conditions seen all summer on a sweltering day at Jan Juc Main Beach last month.

A comfortable-sized easterly swell with light offshore winds created ideal surf for junior competitors to showcase their skills to start the aggregate season.

“The small clean conditions were perfect for the groms,” TBC junior contest director Johnny Hawken said.

“It was all hands on deck by TBC members, resulting in the running of a smooth event.

“The kids put on a show, going mad on the beach and in the water for one of the best days of weather for the summer.”

Heidi Abetz claimed the Rip Curl outstanding performance award, for pausing during the competition to perform a surfer’s rescue by helping to guide a boogieboard rider caught in a rip back to shallow waters, before returning to her heat.

In the competitions, Dom Kellett took first place in the under-14 boys, while Dune Pruvot was judged as the best surfer from the under-14 girls.

Other winners on the day were Anise Pruvot, under-12 girls, Archer Buckland, under-12 boys, and Lenny Perry, under-10s.

Junior competitors will have their next aggregate event on March 12.