(20 March 2022 – Merewether beach – Newcastle AUSTRALIA)
AROUND 80 of the country’s best young surfers were in action over the weekend at the Sanbah Cadet Cup as part of this year’s Surfest. Events were contested for U16 and U14 boys and U16 girls.
Waves varied considerably during the two-day event along the stretch of beach between Bar Beach and Merewether, with some solid two metre waves providing competitors with challenging conditions on an outgoing tide during the finals.
Manly’s Sol Gruendling put on a terrific display of power surfing to win the U16 boys. He showed why exactly why he won the U14 Rip Curl GromSearch National Champion at URBNSURF in Victoria earlier this month.
The 14-year-old St Lukes Grammar student, who surfs for North Steyne Boardriders and is coached by Beau Mitchell, said he’d had a “big day”.
“It was tricky out there. I surfed four heats and I’m knackered but, in the end, I got in rhythm and found a couple of good waves,” Sol said.
His next event will be the Tweed Coast Pro Junior where he said “there’s a lot of learning to be done at that level.”
Current U16 NSW State champion Milla Brown from Bungan Beach on Sydney’s northern beaches was victorious in the U16 girls.
“It was kind of funky out there with that rip running through but it’s super fun,” 14-year-old Milla said.
Current U12 Rip Curl GromSearch National Champion Ocean Lancaster saw a local surfer on the winners’ podium after he won the U14 boys.
“I managed to get a couple of good ones. It was pretty good Merewether, and it was fun surfing with only four other guys out and that rarely happens,” the 13-year-old Newcastle Grammar student said.
“It was cool to win at my local break and I was looking to get a comp under my belt. I’m in the Merewether board Club and it’s the best board club in the world, Ocean said.
He’ll be back at Merewether later this week competing for his school atthe Surfest High Schools Challenge set down for Thursday and Friday.
2022 Sanbah Cadet Cup: Results Finals
U16 Boys
- Sol Gruendling (12.07)
- Fred Carmody (10.26)
- Eden Hasson (9.66)
- Manning Gregory (8.60)
U16 Girls
- Milla Brown (10.83)
- Charlie Hately (9.33)
- Leila Salt (8.07)
- Keila Renes (3.23)
U14 Boys
- Ocean Lancaster (12.93)
- Kash Brown (10.10)
- Ben Zanatta Creagh (8.47)
- Felix Byrnes (6.34)
Pic: Paul Danovaro
