Will and Luca Martin push into national Oz Grom Open finals

Luca Martin has joined older brother Will as the boys with all the sweet moves push deep into the Oz Grom Open surf competition at Lennox Head.

Coff Harbour's Will Martin in action at the 2023 Oz Grom Open at Lennox Head on July 7. Picture: Ethan Smith

The swell dropped on day two of the 2023 Skullcandy Oz Grom Open at Lennox Head on Friday but that didn’t stop Coffs Harbour surfer Will Martin from delivering the fireworks.

Will and Jai Neild (Coolangatta) performed one of the biggest upsets of the event in eliminating former champion and perennial grom comp standout Max Mcgillivray (Evans Head) in the Under 16 boys.

Will and Jai danced to glory in the small surf, each posting heat totals in excess of 13.00 to take out first and second respectively.

The lads will now cool their heels until the quarter-finals.

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Coffs Harbour's Luca Martin carves it up at the 2023 Oz Grom Open at Lennox Head. Picture: Ethan Smith

Other Under 16 boys winners included Dylan Dean Wilcoxen (Indonesia), Maverick Wilson (Dunsborough, WA), Ocean Lancaster (Merewether), Ben Zanatta (Manly) and Caden Francis (Gold Coast).

All are through to the quarters.

Coff Harbour's Will Martin in action at the 2023 Oz Grom Open at Lennox Head on July 7. Picture: Ethan Smith

North Coast surfer Leihani Zoric (Broken Head) is through to the Under 14s girls semi-finals along with Talia Tebb (Avoca), Lucy Darragh (Kiama), and Lani Cairncross (Kiama Downs).

Not to be outdone, Will’s brother Luca has also carved a path toward the podium.

Evans Head's Max McGillivray in action at the 2023 Oz Grom Open at Lennox Head on July 7. Picture: Ethan Smith

Luca was among the standouts in the Under 14 boys along with Zac Johnston (Coolangatta), Noah McBride, Ashton Crowley, and Joey Silk.

But they have 12-year-old Locana Cullen (Avalon) to chase.

The talented natural-footer performed a handful of critical snaps and carves to put his fellow competitors on the ropes. When the final hooter sounded at the end of the heat, Locana had finished with a gigantic 16.17 two-wave heat total.

Tomorrow will see the World Surf League Pro Junior Qualifying Series event.

For some, the event is a stepping stone to the big time - former Oz Grom competitors include Molly Picklum, Mikey, Owen and Tyler Wright, Jack Robinson, reigning World Junior Champion Jarvis Earle and local surfers Mikey McDonagh and Nyxie Ryan.