Tweed groms smash North Coast

Cabarita charger Damo Norman slices the top of the lip during his stunning under-18 victory.

THREE Tweed groms have again shown why the region will be associated with the world’s best surfers for years to come, carving up the Far North Coast Regional Titles at Lennox Head last weekend.

While Cabarita crew Damo Norman and Letarcia Hurt took top honours in their respective blue-ribbon under-18 divisions, it was perhaps the efforts of Tweed up-start Alyssa Lock that put the competition on notice.

At just 10 years old, Alyssa locked and unloaded on the under-14 division, showcasing skills beyond her years to claim the crown she is young enough to defend for another three years.

In a stunning performance, the rising star displayed a devasting repotoire of clinical attacks that simply upstaged her more senior opponents.

“Alyssa surfed magnificently,” Surfing FNC secretary Paul Young said.

“It will be really interesting to see how she goes against Letarcia in the years to come.”

Stepping up from a thrid place finish in last year’s under-16s, Letarcia was in scintillating form throughout the under-18 girls event.

There was simply no stopping the 16-year-old from claiming the coveted crown, in what Young described as her best performances to date.

“It’s the best I’ve seen her,” Young said. “She was on fire.”

Fellow Cabarita charger Damo also lived up to the hype surrounding his profile as one of the state’s top talents.

The 17-year-old wowed judges and specators alike with a powerful display of massive turns and tricks that put daylight between him and the hopefuls.

“Damo is a strong, powerful surfer,” Young said.

“He looks like he is on his way to compete in the national championship, well if he keeps this form up anyway.”

Lennox Head was the leg of a three-round state qualification process. Rounds two and three will be held at Byron Bay and Cabarita Beach respectively.

Each surfer’s best two performances count toward qualification, with the best eight from the region gaining a chance to compete at the state titles in July.