Reigning Open champ, Matty Cooke, pushed his title chances ahead with another scintillating performance in a June comp that will go down in Shoes history for the quality of surfing, consistent waves and a level of community spirit that – if bottled – would be worth millions!
And the Groms Brigade was a showcase of dynamic wave-riding that saw 2015 title frontrunners Jarvis Earle and Koby Napper taking the helm of a battle royale across three dramatic rounds.
The swell started our a bit slow and low, but as the day wore on, the sets started marching in -and every contestant rose to the occasion.
The Open Final was a wavefest that topped Owen Wright’s victory in Fiji, with Cookie, Tommy Mulder, Drew Kelly, Benny Cook, Johnno Bonello and Mitchell Hodges firing off manouevre combinations that defied the size, speed and thunder of the waves.
The Judges were beside themselves working out whether to give 11 out of 10 for many of the rides that just kept coming throughout the 30 minute finale.
Cookie the Elder just sneaked home from a tirade of backside movements from Tommy Gun in the last few minutes of the showdown, with Drew landing third, Bennie fourth, Johnno fifth and Hodgey sixth – with barely a splinter between the final scores.
Jarvis Earle has been in sensational form all season, but even he had to pull a few secrets moves to seal a last gasp victory over the other “Blonde Bombshell” Koby Napper in a final that was worth an Academy Award.
By no means did the Top 2 have it their own wave, with Jetson Kuch, Luca Durante and Charlie Chegwidden blasting away like there was no tomorrow.
The judging panel were in full agreement at contest’s end that the overall performances of the SuperGroms competitors was mind boggling good!
So with the championship pointscores all very tight, it’s onto the July dates of 4-5, with 18-19 the back-up.
In the meantime, Shoes the Club and all its members, families and friends doff their hats to our wonderful Sponsors: Dr John Murray, Only Organic Foods, Tina and Nicole’s Home Delivery, Tengirri Surf Charters, WJ Partners Accountants, Vestal, Lipman Construction, PCC Surboards, Cronulla Travel, Pure Sea Surf Shop, Little Parrot, STC, Cronulla Surf Design and Hot Yogi.
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