Tuach ‘hottest female grom’

ONE of the island’s top junior surfers has done Barbados proud on the United States’ surfing scene.Chelsea Tuach, the reigning Under-18 girls’ champion and the Caribbean Ladies’ champion, surfed her way to top spot in the Rip Curl Grom Search Surf Contest, held at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, last weekend.The contest brought together the best teenaged surfers, aged 16 and under from the United States and other countries, all seeking to be crowned “the hottest male or female grom”. Tuach dominated all her heats with powerful surfing, amassing a heat total of 15.5, out of a possible 20 points, and surfing away with the title of 16-and-Under girls’ champion.The top spot ensured that Tuach will also get the coveted spot in the Grand Final, which will be held in Puerto Rico in October.Tuach’s namesake Chelsea Roett also did her country proud by placing second with a heat total of 12.5, while Darcy Pickford from the United States was third with 12 points, and Maddie Peterson, also from the United States, fourth.The boys’ divisions were also very competitive in the excellent chest to head high waves on offer throughout the contest.Barbados’ most outstanding male surfer at this event was 14-year-old Daniel Edghill who placed second in the 14-and-Under division and ninth in the 16-and-Under division.Solid performances were also put in by Barbados’ Under-10 champion, Che Allan, who placed fifth in the 12-and-Under boys’ division and Jordan Heaselgrave, who placed seventh overall in the 16-and-Under boys with some very progressive surfing.