2022 Oz Grom Open supercharges Lennox Head post-Covid
Lennox Head locals are grinning from ear to ear as a national surf competition for grommets has the town bursting at the seams.
Byron Shire
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After being left high and dry for three years by Covid, a national junior surfing competition is reaching end game at Lennox Head in an event which has saved the town’s bacon.
The six-day 2022 Skullcandy Oz Grom Open has drawn 300-plus to the small seaside community, which was otherwise facing a dour economic winter as heavy machinery dots the streetscape for anticipated, but disruptive, beautification works.
The event has local businesses frothing - with cafes doing a roaring trade and retail generally appreciating the school holiday support.
Ethan Smith from Surfing NSW said the young athletes and their supporters were staying at a mix of accommodation options, including motorhomes and AirBNBs - at Lennox Head and the larger shoulder towns of Byron Bay and Ballina.
Lennox Head Chamber of Commerce committee member Brad Pollard said the Oz Grom Open was telling for local businesses.
“The timing couldn’t be better with the (town) upgrade project happening,” Mr Pollard said.
“It’s been absolutely crucial to help business get through - that’s the reality of it.”
Mr Pollard said the surf fest was a seamless fit for the town.
“As a community it’s good to see our youth participate in a sport that we love and identify with,” he said.
Lennox Head is also starring on the water, with a swag of juniors including Juniper Harper, Ocea Curtis and Harry O’Brien making merry on the big blue.
Juniper, 15, has been surfing competitively since she was 11 years of age, and the Byron Bay High School Year 10 student is one of the favourites at Oz Grom.
“She’s super stoked to have this (event) on. The waves have been amazing, the wind has been offshore and the swell has come through,” Juniper’s mum Jenna Harper said.
“There’s a really good vibe around the town.”
Juniper placed second in the under 12s the last time the competition was held in 2019, and is well in the mix to shine again.
She and Ocea Curtis have kept the dream alive for the local ladies, with Juniper progressing through to the WSL Pro Junior semi-finals and Ocea moving into the under 16 girls semi-finals.
Both showed a ton of local nous in their respective heats to cement themselves a spot in the finals day on Tuesday, July 12.
Not to be outdone, fellow local Harry O’Brien provided one of the biggest upsets of the event on Friday, when he eliminated current ISA World Junior Champion Willis Droomer in the quarter-finals of the under 18 boys.
Harry used his knowledge of the shifting beach break peaks to pick off a multitude of long right-handers which were rewarded with a respectable 12.34 two-wave total.
Founded in 2012, the Skullcandy Oz Grom Open is one of the most highly anticipated junior surfing events in Australia.
The six-day extravaganza includes a World Surf League sanctioned Pro Junior Qualifying Series comp, as well as an elite format for promising grommets in the under 14, 16 and 18 divisions.
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