HomeOcean & Earth International Teenage Rampage Final
January 23rd, 2012Ocean & Earth International Teenage Rampage Final
Italian Wonderkid Leonardo Fioravanti takes the Gold
Sunday, 22 January 2012
A truly global flavour on final day as Italian surfer Leonardo Fioravanti wowed crowds with his phenomenal surfing and won the Ocean and Earth International Teenage Rampage Final.
Winning all three rounds in the lead up to the semis, Fioravanti seemed unstoppable, with Sam Bond knocked out in the semi’s and Broulee event winner Matt King (Ulladulla) going down to Mikey Wright and Luke Hynd, the final was packed with talent.
No more than 2 points stood between first and fourth place as the Aussie boys gave it everything they had to the Italian wonder kid who came to surf against the top Grommets Australia has to offer.
“Surfing against Australia’s best teenagers was awesome, these guys ripped out there all day and it came down to the last minute it was unreal”, said Fioravanti.
“Its so good being in Australia, I love the culture and the people here in Cronulla have been so friendly, I’ve made some good friends here and would love to come back and surf again”, said a super excited Fioravanti.
Italian surferLeonardo Fioravanti won the Ocean and Earth International Teenage Rampage Series Final
Ocean and Earth International Manager Phil ‘Macca’ MacDonald has been with the series since it’s conception and witnessed it’s development into a premier event on the junior surfing calendar.
“The depth in the last 12 months is greater than it has ever been across all divisions, the event continues to draw International surfers who give the competitors a chance to experience surfing on a global scale”, said Macca.
“The series is really becoming an important stepping stone for kids who are developing and moving into the pro tour, we are so happy with the way the contest has been run”, said Macca.
Currently 5th on the ASP Australasia women’s pro junior rankings, Kirstin Ogden (Byron Bay) nailed the highest heat combination in the female contingent, a 16.16.
“It’s pretty windy and messy conditions but if you sit in that little rip bowl you can get some great waves, I’m loving it”, said Ogden.
“I think the format of this competition is a lot better, it takes the pressure of a little bit knowing that you can requalify if you have a bad heat in the first round”, said Ogden of the unique format which allows all surfers to surf three times.
The 16 girls brought some amazing talent through the ranks, Coco Beeby of Scotts Head, NSW and Cali Mcdonaugh (Lennox Head, NSW) performed outstandingly in the tough conditions winning all three of there rounds in the lead up to the semis.
However, when the dust settled, it was Isabelle Nichols (Coolum, QLD), who reigned supreme over Beeby, McDonaugh and Holly Warn (Newport), who finished second, third and fourth respectively.
Almost stealing the show with a mammoth 18.24 combined heat total, Quinn Bruce (Sunrise Beach, QLD) out surfed his fancied competitors, Harley Ross-Webster (Curl Curl, NSW), Jarrod Szele (Warilla, NSW) and Luke Wrice (Coledale, NSW), in a high quality final-affair in the U13 boys.
The under 13 girls were not to disappoint with grommets like Alyssa Lock (Tweed Heads, NSW) shinning as bright as the older female competitors stamping two solid scores (15.66, 15.83) in the early rounds. When the finals came it was Alysse Cooper (Manly, NSW) who reigned over her competitors, Paris Whittaker (Cronulla, NSW) in second, Alyssa Lock in 3rd and Billie Mellinz in 4th.
A splash of the current Australian Open hit the water in Wombats Dash for Cash, with grommets scrambling for tennis balls worth $500 after a run swim run through the maze at North Cronulla.
Aside from the surfing action in the water, the event see’s a host of activities with the iconic ‘Wombat’ who is king of the kids. His competitor zone, dash for cash, breaky bar, prizes and functions create a great event.
The Ocean & Earth Teenage Rampage Junior Surfing Series is supported by Surfing NSW, Sutherland Shire Council, Beach Burrito, Tradies and Westfield Miranda.
The specially designed event encourages kids under the age of 16 to experience competitive surfing by using a unique round robin format, giving every surfer a chance to surf three times.
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- Italian surferLeonardo Fioravanti won the Ocean and Earth International Teenage Rampage Series Final
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- Isabelle Nichols (Coolum, QLD) U16 girls winner – Ocean & Earth International Final. Image: Miller
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- Quinn Bruce (Sunrise Beach, QLD) netted a mammoth 18.24 combined heat total. Image: Miller
About Ocean & Earth:
Ocean & Earth has been at the pinnacle of the Australian and international surfing industry for over 30 years. Based in Sussex Inlet on the NSW south coast, Ocean Earth has become a recognisable leader in surf hardware with its new one piece leash and has produced the greatest evolution in leash technology in 30 years. Ocean & Earth is one of the few remaining independent surf brands to survive in a market now dominated by public companies.
