Witsands/Kommetjie – With exceptional surfing performances in the highly contestable and consistent right-hand waves at Witsands, Loghann Tilsley (Strand) and Emily Jenkinson (Kommetjie) emerged victorious in the Premier U16 Division of the first Rip Curl GromSearch event of the year.
With huge turns on his backhand, Tilsley won the Boy’s division from Scarborough’s Kai Stubbs. In the Girl’s division, Jenkinson, the Kommetjie natural footer took victory from Leah Lepront, the goofy footer from Scottburgh.
Cape Town delivered in style for the final day, providing clean waves, clear skies, and light winds at Witsands for the gathered competitors. The country’s top junior surfers stepped up in the fun right-handers, throwing down powerful turns and impressive performances.
Loghann Tilsley © Keahlo Van Gysen
Fresh Faces
This event provided a chance for some fresh faces to make their mark in the first event of the 2025 series. Summer Harding and Leo McLeod, both from Cape St. Francis, were impressive in the U12 division – Harding taking the girls’ win, while the on-form Ethan Schermbrucker claimed victory in the boys, with McLeod securing a solid second place.
Kommetjie surfers continued to dominate in the U14 Girls, with Coco Clark, Charlotte Copson, and Emma Schermbrucker sweeping the podium, while Maya Malherbe from Coffee Bay rounded out the final in fourth.
The U14 Boys division was an extremely close affair between first and second, with Slayde Shooter just ahead of Marcello Zedde by a whisker, winning the final by 0.36 of a point.
The surfing in the U18 Boys Finals was electric, with Durban surfer Matt Canning holding a comfortable lead. As the seconds ticked away towards the end of the heat, Cape Town surfer Levi Epenetos found what he was looking for and snagged a nugget of a wave to snatch victory from Canning.
Levi Epenetos © Keahlo Van Gysen
A polished Emily Jenkinson from Kommetjie beat Maxine Kauffman from Durban in the U18 Girls, with Leah Lepront and Taylor Emslie in the minor positions.
Expression Session
The Expression Session was a great addition to the day’s competition. In the Boy’s division, Massimo Bienz took the R1000 cash for a perfectly executed air reverse, with Kai Stubbs in second and pocketing R600 for his effort.
Emily Jenkinson continued her winning ways, making it three out of three wins, by taking out the Girls Expression session. She won the R1000 prize purse with Leah Lepront in second, banking her R600.
The overall series winners in the Premier U16 Boys and Girls divisions of the Rip Curl GromSearch Series South Africa 2025 earn a coveted spot in the Rip Curl GromSearch International Final. This event, set for a yet-to-be-announced international location later this year, will bring together the worldwide GromSearch winners to battle it out for top global honours. Tilsley and Jenkinson win this round, and there are three more events for them to consolidate.
This competition will be remembered for the challenging conditions at Witsands but even more so for the incredible camaraderie among the groms – pushing each other, competing hard, and showing true sportsmanship. The kids are more than alright.
The Rip Curl GromSearch Series, run by Surfing South Africa, is a highlight of the junior surfing calendar – hugely popular and a clear reflection of the thriving talent in South African surfing. It’s also a glimpse into the sport’s future stars. Next up, the series heads to Port Alfred over Easter as part of the Port Alfred Easter Festival.
Final Results:
U12 Girls
1. Summer Harding
2. Ella van der Made
3. Kayla Bone
U12 Boys
1. Ethan Schermbrucker
2. Leo Macleod
3. Jackson Myers
4. Tom Pearson
U14 Girls
1. Coco Clark
2. Charlotte Copson
3. Emma Schermbrucker
4. Maya Malherbe
U14 Boys
1. Slayde Shooter
2. Marcello Zedde
3. Valdemar Gwenin
4. Leo Macleod
U18 Girls
1. Emily Jenkinson
2. Max Kauffman
3. Leah Lepront
4. Taylor Emslie
U18 Boys
1. Levi Epenetos
2. Matt Canning
3. Loghann Tilsley
4. Luc Fischer
U16 Girls
1. Emily Jenkinson
2. Leah Lepront
3. Camilla Heuer
4. Taylor Emslie
U16 Boys
1. Loghann Tilsley
2. Kai Stubbs
3. Asbjorn Gwenin
4. Nathan Tayler
The Rip Curl GromSearch contests are all premier SAST events, with 1,000 points going to the winners and prizemoney per all premier events.
The Rip Curl GromSearch Long Beach contest is a Surfing South Africa tournament, supported by Sea Harvest.
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