Bali, Indonesia – The 2024 Rip Curl GromSearch International, covered by Sun Bum, wrapped up in Bali today with incredible waves and high performances at Pererenan Beach, solidifying its reputation as the premier event for young surfing talent around the globe. The event saw the UK’s Lukas Skinner successfully defend his title in the 16 & Under Boys division, while the USA’s Eden Walla claimed victory in the 16 & Under Girls.
Lukas Skinner’s journey to the final was nothing short of extraordinary. He scored a perfect 10 along the way, showcasing his exceptional skill with a flawless alley-oop into a carve, finishing with a clean air-reverse. In the nail-biting final, Lukas faced off against Spain’s Dylan Donegan, who beat Cape St Francis surfer Rory Dace in the semis en route to the final. Lukas was trailing, but caught one of the biggest waves of the day at the end, launching a huge straight air to seal the deal with a 9.33.
“Man, it means the world to me,” said Lukas. “Dylan had me on the ropes. We both got two eights, and he scored higher on both, but I knew I had to go big on my next chance. I’ve been struggling to beat Dylan all year—he pushes me so much—and I’m stoked to finally get him.”
16 & Under Girls division
In the 16 & Under Girls division, American Eden Walla emerged victorious, overcoming an in-form Ziggy Mackenzie from Australia in the final. Mackenzie defeated Scottburgh’s Louise Lepront in the semis to gain her final berth.
Louise Lepront, (Scottburgh), Eden Walla, Ziggy Mackenzie, Carla Morera
Eden’s composed performance in the high-pressure format was a testament to her poise and talent. “I think my dad was more nervous than me, but the man-on-man format is nerve-racking,” said Eden. “It was such a cool experience surfing in this CT format, and I’m so happy with the win.”
Another highlight included surf legends Steph Gilmore, Molly Picklum and Rosy Hodge taking over commentary on the live webcast for the day. The trio had plenty to discuss, including Spain’s Carla Morera placing equal third in the girl’s division at 13 years old and Aussie Ben Zanatta Creagh throwing elite rail surfing all day to make it to the boy’s semi-finals.
Launching Pad
The Rip Curl GromSearch International is more than just a competition; it is a launching pad for future professional surfing stars. Two-thirds of current Championship Tour (CT) surfers are former GromSearch competitors, underscoring the event’s significance in shaping the careers of some of the most successful surfers of all time.
For complete results, visit the LiveHeats Event Page, or follow the Final Days live webcast: YouTube Live Webcast.
The Rip Curl GromSearch Global Finals was covered by Zigzag Magazine.
Zigzag, Sea Harvest, the Royal St Andrews Hotel, and Surfing South Africa supported the South African team.
Distributed by Surfing South Africa
Craig Jarvis
t. 082 376 4443
About Surfing South Africa
Surfing South Africa is the official National Federation for Surfing in South Africa. SSA is a member of the South African Confederation of Sport and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) and is recognised as the governing body by the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture.
Surfing South Africa is responsible for developing the sport, hosting National tournaments, sanctioning International events, and selecting National teams in all SSA disciplines. SSA is a member of the African Surfing Confederation (ASC) and the International Surfing Association (ISA), the World governing body.
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