Olive Hardy and Cruz Uros claim top gongs at Woolworths Surfer Groms contest at Trigg

Capes groms have snatched the top titles in gentle conditions at the weekend’s Woolworths Surfer Groms Comp at Trigg Beach.

Margaret River’s Olive Hardy was predicted to take out the under-14 girls’ title and proceeded to do so in fine form, while up-and-coming Dunsborough surfer Cruz Uros won in the top boys’ division.

That wasn’t the end of the action for Capes surfers, with Yallingup’s Nate Spooner snatching the under-10 boys’ prize and Margaret River and Cowaramup grommets featuring in the finals across most of the under-8, under-10, under-12 and under-14 divisions.

As part of stop eight on the national tour set to conclude on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast in early December, Hardy and Uros booked their tickets to the Surfing Australia High Performance Centre following their victories.

While “better than expected” conditions greeted the dozens of young competitors, the Margaret River region’s wild surf gave some of the youngsters a foot up against their Perth comrades, reflected in impressive surfing across age divisions.

Flying the region’s flag included Ace Flynn and Jahli Clark making the under-14s finals and Dunsborough’s Rosie Gillett and Cowaramup’s Grace Cook losing out on points to Hardy in the under-14s girls’ final.

Under-14 girls’ State Champion Hardy went back-to-back in her final, claiming her second consecutive win in the Under-14 victory.

Hardy locked in two seven-point plus rides on her way to a two wave total of 14.60.

“I’m happy and sad at the same time as this will be my last Surfer Groms Comp,” she said after the win.

“The win is a great confidence boost heading into next week’s National Titles in Queensland, which I’m so looking forward to.”

Uros dominated in his final, leaving his competitors all in a combination situation when the final siren sounded.

Uros locked in a near-perfect 9.30 on his way to a massive two-wave tally of 16.63.

“I’m so happy with my performance and to head away to the HPC is like a dream come true,” Uros said.

“It looks so amazing and I love my skateboarding, so hopefully we get to hit the ramps over there.

“I’m off to North Stradbroke tomorrow and think this has been great preparation for that.”

The best and fairest male and female surfers of the event were nominated as Margaret River’s Luna Thomas and Geraldton’s Cruz Macdonald.