Eli Steele
Clean waves and great surfing on day 2 at the Rusty Gromfest at Lennox Head.
Saturday July 10, 2010: Lennox Head NSW Australia: Day two at the Rusty Gromfest saw much cleaner conditions with sunny skies and offshore winds and this assembly of Australia and many of the world's best young surfers thrived in the better conditions
West Australian surfers have been prominent on the opening two days here and again today with Margaret River pair Creed McTagggart and Bronte Macaulay both impressive winners in their 16 year and under divisions.
Both have been attending the Rusty Gromfest for a number of years and are keen to notch up a win at this prestigious event given this is their final year!
"I placed 4th last year here and I'm keen to try and win this year for sure," said McTaggart.
"I won last week on the Gold Coast at the Occy event and I feel really in good rhythm ao it would be good to win again- this is a great event and to be a part of the winning list would be special," added Creed.
"Bronte Macaulay took advantage of some great left peeling waves this morning and posted the morning's highest scoring ride with an excellent 8.25 for a series of very powerful and committed bottom to top turn combinations.
Sunshine Coast surfers continued to impress today, lead by Eli Steele and Harry Bryant. Steele demonstrated his power on face abilities by progressing through to the quarter finals in the 16 Boys, placing 2nd in his four man heat behind the events number one seed, Hirota Arai from Japan.
Earlier Steele also showed us his aerial abilities by winning through to the final of the Kerrazy Airshow Invitational, an event directed by probably the world's greatest aerialist in Josh Kerr.
Steele pulled the biggest aerial in his qualifying heat of this unique specialty event which is judged solely by Kerr.
"To perform aerials for Josh Kerr is really special - the final will be amazing because some of the international surfers seem really good at pulling aerials - I'm looking forward to the final but I'm also really keen to keep progressing to the final in the 16's division as well" said Steele who will be joined by fellow Sunshine Coast surfer Kai Hing in the aerial six man final late today.
Sydney surfer Cooper Chapman scored the day's highest scoring ride with an outstanding 9 point ride to advance to the quarter finals of the 16 Boys and Cooper is also highly fancied in the Kerrazy Airshow final.