European #GromSearch 2015 STOP 2, Banzai beach ITALY
Santa Marinella beach, Rome, Italy (April 28, 2015)
On Tuesday, 28 April, Rip Curl Grom Search took place for the first time in Italy at Banzai.
The long-awaited contest dedicated to all Italian Groms had a waiting period for the entire month of April and finally the RIP CURL team rider contest director Alessandro Marciano kicked off on Tuesday 28 April. And it was a great success!
Participants from every part of the peninsula arrived early in a slightly rainy morning. Fortunately shortly later the sun came out and waves of Banzai lighted up in front of the audience. The spot offered one meter and half wave, perfect for all categories allowed in the race.
The first Groms who started the competition were Under 12! All the kids were excited about surfing in one of the most famous spots of Italy. At the beginning they were struggling a bit because of the strong current but they tried anyway to take off on the biggest waves. All the boys were supported in the water by the Italian Surf Champ Valentina Vitale, a reassuring figure close to these young and future champions. During the finals Catanzariti, who will win the U12 Contest, Venturini, Santucci and Funari challenged on every wave.
Then it was the Girl’s turn with a “final four” in which Pacitto Onda and Iacopini Emma took respectively the first and the second position on the podium, despite Salvati Ottavia and Sanchietti Matilde were both tied at the third place.
Meanwhile on stage the contest was being followed in with great attention: the jury was made up of some of the best Italian surf personalities, especially Marco Gregori, head-judge of international level with great experience, who perfectly managed the team, called “dream team”, made up of veterans such as: Francesco Mangino, Roberto Bersani, Simone Giorgi and Martina Camerini. Andrea Civelli, Rip Curl Italy Sales and Marketing manager, followed closely this contest in Santa Marinella.
As expected, the contest level started to rise with Under-14 Groms. Sea conditions remained substantially stable even though the important thing is choosing the right wave. The final was played by the four surfers in best shape: Bramucci, Caruso, Spadoni and the winner Calatri. The shouting, the screaming and cheering grew based on the categories and the tricks of the riders in the batteries.
Then it was the time for Under-16 category, the most entertaining and performing.
The constant wind was blowing from the sea but it didn’t ruin the continuous waves sets in front of the Rip Curl village on the beach.
After the first qualification round the race led to 2 semi-finals in which Di Fazio (Rip Curl Italy team rider) and De Maria failed to express their full potential and couldn’t reach the next heat.
The contest ended with a four good surfers: Mallorca, Lucchini, Pacitto, and Migliorini.
This heat was a real fight until the last wave and in extremis Mattia Migliorini won the category U16. Mattia will then take part in the European final to be held in 2016.
Waves, sun, music and lots of fun for the first edition of GROM SEARCH ITALY organized by RIP CURL ITALY, Santa Marinella Surf Club, historical beach club of Banzai.
Before the awards a brief intervention of the Delegate of Tourism of Santa Marinella Municipality, Alessio Marcozzi, who underlined the importance of sport for young people especially of surfing and of these events.
Special thanks to: City of Santa Marinella, the Harbour, Banzai Green, Musical Works and our collaborators such as local photographer Carlo Sarnacchioli and an exceptional video reporter as Nicola Bresciani.
GIRLS RESULTS:
1) Onda Pacitto.
2) Emma Iacopini.
3) Ottavia Salvati / Matilde Sanchietti.
UNDER 12 RESULTS:
1) Ian Catanzariti.
2) Alessandro Venturini.
3) Giorgio Santucci.
4) Valerio Funari.
UNDER 14 RESULTS:
1) Matteo Colatri.
2) Edoardo Spadoni.
3) Giulio Caruso.
4) Daniel Bramucci.
UNDER 16 RESULTS:
1) Mattia Migliorini.
2) Mauro Pacitto.
3) Giacomo Lucchini.
4) Mattia Mallorca.
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