FIJI Surfing head coach Ian Portingale was impressed with the abundance of surfing talents on display during the Rip Curl Micro Grommet Series 2016 first tournament held at Natadola Beach last weekend.
He said 56 participants took part to develop their surfing skills.
Portingale said six top surfers were picked from the tournament with the final to be held in the next competition next month.
“The series kicked off with 56 enthusiastic participants, some as young as six years old. Some had only started surfing six months ago,” he said.
“The response was fabulous and they were accompanied by their parent or guardians. The standard of surfing was good given the small conditions with some surfers giving quite a strong performance.”
He said the competition was to identify potential surfers who could be groomed to become top players.
“The competition was to develop more interest towards surfing. The feedback from the parents and guardians were positive with most wanting more events like this one. Combined with the number of participants, their raw enthusiasm and the skills demonstrated placed FSA in an excited future.
“After the November event the FSA will announce a high performance squad and a development squad.”
The second round will be held at the Swimming Pools, Namotu Island. This is the first time this style of event has been held in Fiji.
Top six surfers from each grade after the first day: U14 boys: John Vasea (Wailoaloa) 32.8, Ulaiasi Tukuna (Matanivusi) 30.5, Samuela Rawaqa (Tabanavono) 28.5, Thomas Steele (Vodo Ua), Julius Campbell, Kini Labalaba (Tabanavono), James Kusitino (Kulukulu), Qovu Naulivou (Wailoaloa) 28.2, Elena Chong-Sue (Kulukulu) 22.2, Polly Chong-Sue (Kulukulu) 19.5, Talei Dromunasiga(Kulukulu) 17.9. U14 girls: Kiesha Wakeham(Wailoaloa) 35.5, Kayla Wakeham (Wailoaloa) 30, Filomena Vakarusabai (Kulukulu) 18.5, Repeka Tabua (Tabanavono) 13.5, Joy Salayau (Tabanavono) 3, Linieta Raluni (Matanivusi). U12 boys: Samuela Navuso (Matanivusi) 34.7, Brandon Koroi (Tabanavono), 31.5, Saimoni Vakarusabai Jnr (Kulukulu), 29.5, Josefa Kali(Tabanavono) 26.7, Jonathan Heartley (Kulukulu) 19.2, Royston Steele (Kulukulu), Julius Campbell (Vodo Ua), Kini Labalaba (Tabanavono), James Kusitino (Kulukulu), Qovu Naulivou (Wailoaloa) 28.2, Elena Chong-Sue (Kulukulu) 22.2, Polly Chong-Sue (Kulukulu) 19.5, Talei Dromunasiga (Kulukulu) 17.9. U10 boys: Kalama McKellar (Vodo Ua), Julius Campbell, Kini Labalaba (Tabanavono), James Kusitino (Kulukulu), Qovu Naulivou (Kulukulu), Karel Ooms (Wailoaloa). U10 girls: Kiesha Wakeham (Wailoaloa) 38.7, Ulukilupete’a Kurop (Wailoaloa) 34.1, Havana Kurop (Wailoaloa) 28.2, Elena Chong-Sue (Kulukulu) 22.2, Polly Chong-Sue (Kulukulu) 19.5, Talei Dromunasiga (Kulukulu) 17.9.
