Event Reports

Stage is set for Rip Curl GromSearch National Finals after record turnouts in Thailand and Bali

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September 14, 2011 -- Kuta, Bali – After back-to-back Rip Curl GromSearch events in Thailand and Bali that saw record turnouts over the weekend, the stage is now set for the GromSearch National Finals in Bali this October.

Rip Curl's ongoing search for the most promising young surfers across Southeast Asia kicked off a historic weekend on Saturday at Kata Beach, on the island of Phuket, Thailand. Thirteen-year-old Kata Beach surfer Panu Visedsombut braved heavy winds, rain and storm-surf conditions to win the Rip Curl GromSearch Thailand for the second year in a row. Visedsombut edged out his close friend, and fellow Kata Beach boy, Banjo Schlider, 11, in punchy three-foot beachbreak to take the final.

It was a historic performance by both Visedsombut and Schlider. As the top two placing surfers at GromSearch Thailand, Visedsombut and Schlider have become the first-ever Thai surfers to qualify for the GromSearch National Finals, which will be held during the Rip Curl Surf and Music Festival at Kuta Beach, Bali, on Oct. 8-9.

“Panu and I surf together at Kata Beach whenever there are waves,” Schlider said. “I'm very excited we get to go to Bali together to surf in the National Finals and show everyone that there are good surfers in Thailand.”

Another two-time champion was crowned on Sunday at the GromSearch event in Bali, held at the long cobblestone pointbreak of Medewi. Canggu’s Jeren Kiring, 15, once again found himself atop the victory podium in the Under-16 Division. Kiring, who beat out runner-up Andre Julian (Cimaja), was also last year’s National GromSearch Champion, and was understandably stoked to have a chance to do it all again this year.

“I can’t believe I won again for the second year in a row,” Kiring said. “I hope I can also win the National Final again in Kuta. That would be really great, as I want another chance to go to Bells Beach in Australia.”

Some 70 groms signed up for the day’s competition in Medewi. The majority of them from the Bali area, but also some international groms from Australia, Brazil, Hawaii, Portugal, and Sweden. In Thailand, 30 boys and girls, ranging in age from five to 15, entered into this year's event. The groms came from all over the island of Phuket, and even from as far away as mainland Thailand. Several international kids, on vacation in Thailand with their families, participated as well.

As the top two finishers from their respective regions, Visedsombut and Schlider from Thailand, and Kiring and Julian from Bali, will now have to prepare to go up against the top finishers from other GromSearch events in Java, Lombok and Sumbawa in the GromSearch National Finals.

The elite field of ten groms will compete for a ticket to the GromSeach World Finals, held in conjunction with the Rip Curl Pro WCT event at Australia's legendary Bells Beach. These ten lucky groms will also be invited to participate in a week-long Rip Curl GromSearch National Training Camp, just prior to the National Finals, where they will receive top-notch instruction from Rip Curl's world-class team of professional riders. Transportation, lodging, meals and spending money is all provided to the groms courtesy of Rip Curl.

The regional GromSearch Series has come to a close in 2011. After a historic year that saw the expansion of the GromSearch series to the surfing frontier of Thailand, the ten best performers now have their sights set on Kuta Beach for the National Finals in October. Stay tuned to find out who is the hottest grom in Southeast Asia!



Rip Curl GromSearch Thailand 2011 results:

1. Panu Visedsombut (Kata Beach)*
2. Banjo Schlider (Kata Beach)*
3. Pumin Chamnan (Kata Beach)
4, Chongchet Sroison (Kamala)
*qualify for GromSearch National Finals, Oct. 8-9, at Kuta Beach, Bali.


Rip Curl GromSearch Bali 2011 results:

Under-16 Division:



1. Jeren Kiring (Canggu)*
2. Andre Julian (Cimaja)*

3. Ediana Putra (Lembongan)

4. Wayan Sunarta (Kuta)
*qualify for GromSearch National Finals, Oct. 8-9, at Kuta Beach, Bali.




Under-14 Division:

1. Riman Jayadi (Canggu)

2. Reef Doig (Australia)

3. Raju (Legian)

4. Tommy Sobri (Pecatu)

Photos and video from all the GromSearch events this year can be found on Rip Curl Asia's Facebook page, as well as www.asia.RipCurl.com. Log on to tag yourself and your friends.



About the Rip Curl GromSearch

The Rip Curl GromSearch Series is a global search for the most talented male and female under-16 surfers. Rip Curl is forever searching for the best way to look after the most important surfers – the grommets! It's all about giving male and female groms the chance to surf with their friends in a fun environment. At the same time, it gives them great competitive experience and allows selected winners to compete for a trip to the Grom Seach World Finals, held in conjunction with the Rip Curl Pro WCT event at Australia's legendary Bells Beach. The GromSearch program has seen some awesome talent over the years, including past winners Stephanie Gilmore, Ben Dunn, Mason Ho, Matt Wilkinson, Jessi Miley-Dyer and Alana Blanchard, along with Indonesian surfers Garut Widiarta and Oney Anwar. Do it up at your local beach with the Rip Curl GromSearch in 2011!


The 2011 Rip Curl GromSearch Series is sanctioned by the Coca-Cola ISC (Indonesian Surfing Championship) Tour. All contestants receive ISC Junior Division points at each event. The Under-16-year-old surfer with the most points accumulated through all junior events at the end of the year will become the Indonesian Junior Champion for 2011.

The 2011 Rip Curl GromSearch Series is sponsored by ESS (Eat Sleep Surf), Skull Candy, TRAX, GUS, Hai Magazine, Magic Wave, and OZ Radio Bali.

 

GromSearch Medewi, Bali 2011 photos shot by: Tim Haim


GromSearch Thailand 2011 photos shot by: Nathan Lawrence