While the local surf scene was conspicuous by its absence at the recent nationals in Dunedin, two Far North surfers were in action at the first event of the Billabong Grom Series at Mount Maunganui last weekend.
The best result came from Kerikeri's Joe Palmer in making the semi finals of the under-20 boys division. On the first day, Saturday, in conditions described as perfect for the grommets, Palmer and Tauranga's Callum Chuter both posted 16 point totals to progress from their quarter-final heats.
The event report singled out both goofy-footers, noting the pair took a liking to the lefthand rip bowl in front of the competition site, "hitting clean lips and flying across fast sections through to the inside shore dump ..." Both Palmer and Chuter missed the national championships in Dunedin earlier this month so were likely looking to make up for their absence at that event."
Also from Northland, New Zealand representative Manu Scott-Arrieta (Sandy Bay) was also in the U20 division. He and Palmer were eventually eliminated in the same semi final heat in deteriorating conditions on Sunday; the pair eventually placing third and fourth respectively behind Chuter and Tauranga's Andrew Fraser-MacKenzie who went on to claim the U20 title on home surf.
Also representing the Far North at the Oceanbridge-presented youth series was Kaitaia's Taj Broughton albeit he was unable to progress from his first heat in the under-14 boys division.
