Written by Ben Kennings Surfing NZ
The inaugural Backdoor GromBash set for Manu Bay Raglan this weekend brings a twist to the traditional grommet event with Under 18 Boys and Girls divisions being added to the fold.
The Under 18 Divisions are a break away from the traditional premier division being the Under 16s at most events. The change will see New Zealand’s best grommets use the event as part of their build up to the ISA World Junior Surfing Championships scheduled for June in Nicaragua.
The two day event runs throughout Saturday and Sunday (13-14 April) with an action packed schedule of surfing and activities on land including a skate ramp for everyone to use. All entrants in the event will also go in the draw to win a new surfboard as well as prizes up for grabs for best re-entry, cutback, barrel and air.
Backdoor will host a surfboard swap meet for everyone. Surfers will be able to buy and sell their equipment with Backdoor staff on hand to give advice on board pricing as well as the best equipment to purchase.
With a good swell forecasted for the weekend the performance levels will rise significantly with the likes of New Zealand representatives Sean Kettle (Tara), Elliot Paerata – Reid (Piha) and Mackenzie Christie (Mnt) all making an appearance at the event. The introduction of the ‘older’ grommets will also spur on the younger surfers who have had a summer of events to themselves.
Piha’s Elliot Paerata – Reid is the current Under 18 Boys New Zealand Champion. His powerful backhand and calculated competitive strategy will have him go into the event as the number one seed and one of the favourites to progress through to the final stages of the event.
The Under 18 Boys Division will also see the likes of Waretini Wano (Piha), Paul Moretti (Mimiwhangata), Jordan Griffin (Mnt) and Levi Stewart (Waihi Beach) take to the water. A return to competition for Peri Matenga (Mnt) and Adam Grimson (Gis), who has been injured for the past five months, will make the field of surfers the toughest seen this summer.
Gisborne’s Jasmine Smith will lead the way for the Under 18 Girls Division after also winning the National Championships at Piha in January. Smith will head to Nicaragua with Paerata – Reid and the rest of the New Zealand Team in June with this event being one of the last national outings before they depart. Smith will contest both the Under 16 Girls Division and the Under 18 Girls Division along with her counterparts Dayna Story and Abby Falwasser – Logan from Gisborne and Claudia Fraser from Piha who will all be on double duty this weekend.
Smith will be hoping to find her winning ways in the Under 16 Girls Division as well after missing the last two events of the season. Smith, who is also a top ranked competitor in surf lifesaving, has had to juggle both sports over summer but will want to press for a win this weekend to climb back up the ratings from seventh where she currently stands.
In the Under 16 Boys Division, Kehu Butler (Mnt) has had a firm grip on the number one ranking winning three of the five events to date this summer. However it could be local surfer Taylor Hutchison that uses his knowledge of the Manu Bay line up to secure a breakthrough win. Hutchison has placed runner up at the last two events, beating Butler on one occasion. The smooth and stylish natural foot surfer knows Manu Bay as good as any surfer in the event having surfed the break since well before his teens.
Others to look out for in the Under 16 Boys Division will be Isaac Kettle (Tara) and Callum Chuter (Mnt) both having tight forehand surfing that will suit Manu Bay. Youngsters Tane Bowden (WGM) and Daniel Farr (Tara) may also find themselves in the mix if conditions suit.
The youngest division contested at the event will be the Under 14 Boys and Girls Divisions. This being the last event of the season, every entrant will be keen to finish on a high.
The Backdoor GromBash event is the sixth nationally sanctioned event for the majority of surfers competing next weekend. The action packed summer of surfing started at the National Championships at Piha before heading to Mount Maunganui, Whangamata, back to Piha and then New Plymouth.
Set out below are the current ratings leaders for the respective divisions.
Under 18 Boys Top 5
1, Elliot Paerata – Reid (Piha)
2, Waretini Wano (Piha)
3, Jules Craft (Gis)
4, Sean Kettle (Tara)
5, Mackenzie Christie (Mnt)
5, Josh Taylor (Mnt)
Under 18 Girls Top 5
1, Jasmine Smith (Gis)
2, Ella Williams (WGM)
3, Jayda Martin – Fitzharris (Gis)
4, Bianca Sansom (Auck)
5, Abby Falwasser – Logan (Gis)
5, Gabriella Sansom (Auck)
Under 16 Boys Top 5
1, Kehu Butler (Arataki)
2, Taylor Hutchison (Rag)
3, Isaac Kettle (Tara)
4, Callum Chuter (Tau)
5, Harrison Whiteside (ChCh)
Under 16 Girls Top 5
1, Claudia Fraser (Auck)
2, Kea Smith (Arataki)
3, Britt Kindred (Muri)
4, Elin Tawharu (Mnt)
5, Dayna Story (Gis)
Under 14 Boys Top 5
1, Kehu Butler (Arataki)
2, Tane Bowden (Whmata)
3, Daniel Farr (Tara)
4, Jonas Tawharu (Mnt)
5, Thomas Dixon-Smith (Gis)
Under 14 Girls Top 5
1, Raiha Ensor (Mnt)
2, Kea Smith (Mnt)
3, Maaia Reid-Bennett (Arataki)
4, Elin Tawharu (Mnt)
5, Tiana Breeze – de Mooij (Mnt)
In the Under 16 Boys Division, Kehu Butler (Mnt) has had a firm grip on the number one ranking winning three of the five events to date this summer. However it could be local surfer Taylor Hutchison that uses his knowledge of the Manu Bay line up to secure a breakthrough win. Hutchison has placed runner up at the last two events, beating Butler on one occasion. The smooth and stylish natural foot surfer knows Manu Bay as good as any surfer in the event having surfed the break since well before his teens.
Others to look out for in the Under 16 Boys Division will be Isaac Kettle (Tara) and Callum Chuter (Mnt) both having tight forehand surfing that will suit Manu Bay. Youngsters Tane Bowden (WGM) and Daniel Farr (Tara) may also find themselves in the mix if conditions suit.
The youngest division contested at the event will be the Under 14 Boys and Girls Divisions. This being the last event of the season, every entrant will be keen to finish on a high.
The Backdoor GromBash event is the sixth nationally sanctioned event for the majority of surfers competing next weekend. The action packed summer of surfing started at the National Championships at Piha before heading to Mount Maunganui, Whangamata, back to Piha and then New Plymouth.
Set out below are the current ratings leaders for the respective divisions.
Under 18 Boys Top 5
1, Elliot Paerata – Reid (Piha)
2, Waretini Wano (Piha)
3, Jules Craft (Gis)
4, Sean Kettle (Tara)
5, Mackenzie Christie (Mnt)
5, Josh Taylor (Mnt)
Under 18 Girls Top 5
1, Jasmine Smith (Gis)
2, Ella Williams (WGM)
3, Jayda Martin – Fitzharris (Gis)
4, Bianca Sansom (Auck)
5, Abby Falwasser – Logan (Gis)
5, Gabriella Sansom (Auck)
Under 16 Boys Top 5
1, Kehu Butler (Arataki)
2, Taylor Hutchison (Rag)
3, Isaac Kettle (Tara)
4, Callum Chuter (Tau)
5, Harrison Whiteside (ChCh)
Under 16 Girls Top 5
1, Claudia Fraser (Auck)
2, Kea Smith (Arataki)
3, Britt Kindred (Muri)
4, Elin Tawharu (Mnt)
5, Dayna Story (Gis)
Under 14 Boys Top 5
1, Kehu Butler (Arataki)
2, Tane Bowden (Whmata)
3, Daniel Farr (Tara)
4, Jonas Tawharu (Mnt)
5, Thomas Dixon-Smith (Gis)
Under 14 Girls Top 5
1, Raiha Ensor (Mnt)
2, Kea Smith (Mnt)
3, Maaia Reid-Bennett (Arataki)
4, Elin Tawharu (Mnt)
5, Tiana Breeze – de Mooij (Mnt)