Surf Coast local wins qualifiers

Surf Coast local Kai Colman starred in the Rip Curl Grom Search qualifiers at Jan Juc. (Noah Clifford / Surfing Victoria)

Surf Coast local Kai Colman blitzed his way through the Under 12 boys’ draw to take the win in the Rip Curl Grom Search qualifiers at Jan Juc.

The Mount Duneed resident started the heat strongly with a nine-point ride (out of a possible 10) and never looked back, scoring several other excellent rides which put his competitors in a combination situation.

“It was really fun to be out in 2-3 foot pumping rights for the final with everyone ripping,” Colman said.

“I was really happy to get the win in my first ever gromsearch competition.”

When the heat was complete Coleman had surfed his way to an impressive combined heat total of 18.57 (out of a possible 20) through a fearless approach of attacking the waves.

Finishing in second was Jacques Callebaut (Freshwater) on 11.94 points. Angus Kennedy (Cowes) and Jesse Woods (North Wollongong) finished third and fourth respectively.

In the Under 16 girls division Lani Cairncross (Kiama Downs) came out on top in the final with two 6 point rides leading to a combined heat total of 12.84 points to secure the win.

This came after Cairncross came in 2nd place in the Under 14 girls’ final giving her the motivation to come out on top in the Under 16 division.

“I feel really honoured to have been able to compete in the comp and especially come away with the win,” Cairncross said.

“The conditions were really clean and it was a great size, which made for such a fun day,” she added.”