Saturday, 19 March 2005
Rip Curl GromSearch International Final
Bells Beach – Australia
March 21 to 31, 2005


Robb and Smith En Route to
Bells Beach
Sports Pages
SURFING
Jordan Smith (Dbn)
Nikita Robb (EL)
Nikita Robb (EL) and Jordan Smith (Dbn) are en route to Bells Beach in Australia to
compete in the Rip Curl GromSearch International Final which has a window period from 21
to 31 March.

The popular Rip Curl GromSearch Series have grown to such an extent that Rip Curl has
opted to present the opportunity to top invited junior surfers from every region around the
world to challenge their international competitors for the first ever International GromSearch
Champion bragging rights.

”I am really impressed that Rip Curl has included girls at the international event because it’s
normally the boys that get prizes like these. I can’t thank Rip Curl enough for such a
wonderful opportunity. I reckon with more opportunities like this the South African junior
surfing level will be on a par with the other top countries,” commented 16 year old Robb
who is no stranger to the international stage having placed 11th at the ISA Junior World
Surfing Games held in Tahiti last December.

Robb and Smith won the Rip Curl GromSearch Grand Final U16 girl’s and U16 boy’s titles
respectively in November 2004 at Ansteys Beach (Bluff) in Durban. The pair was awarded
an all expenses paid trip to compete against Brazilians, Indonesians, Americans, New
Zealanders, Australians and British surfers.

Smith, who placed third in the Jetty Surf Pro Junior at Bells, and Robb have some
experience surfing the venue but both agreed that the Australian and Brazilian competitors
posed the biggest threat. Former U16 ISA World Champion Smith compared the break to a
slower version of Jeffrey’s Bay.

“I am truly grateful that Rip Curl has come up with this amazing prize. It's an honour to surf
with some of the best groms in the world. It can only improve my surfing and experience. Of
course I am hoping to win it! I don’t want to travel all the way there for second place,” said
Smith.

Another highlight will be the fact that the event takes place during the Rip Curl Pro at Bells
Beach where the youngsters will be mingling with World Championship Tour (WCT) surfers
like Rip Curl Team member Mick Fanning (Aus). The Rip Curl Pro is one of the world's best
known sporting events and the longest running surfing event in the world.          

“To be given a platform within the Rip Curl Pro is amazing, to be amongst the pros is also
fantastic as they are good role models,” said Smith.

The Rip Curl GromSearch events in South Africa are aimed at identifying and developing
emerging junior talent along our coastline. The first 2005 Rip Curl GromSearch event takes
place in Cape Town on 9 April.

Issued on behalf of:
Rip Curl South Africa
Issued by:
Olivia Jones Communications
082 537 8840
Email: olivia@atomgate.com  

Surfing SA: 082 454 1149: rosadian@iafrica.com
www.surfingsouthafrica.co.za
Jordy, Nikita and Mike Larmont (Head
of Rip Curl SA).