Rip Curl GromSearch Phillip Island: Queensland’s Mitchell Peterson eyeing off a season high

Queensland junior Mitchell Peterson is eyeing off a breakthrough result at this year’s Rip Curl GromSearch Phillip Island as the event moves into its final two days.

Peterson, 16, has cracked a top-three finish at two of the five 10,000-rated events this year - the Parko’s Junior Pro and the Skyullcandy Oz Grom Open - and will be looking to jump up the under-18 boys rankings if he can take out the last of the five before the November’s Australian Junior Surfing Titles.

The top-ranked junior in each of the under-18 and under-16 boys and girls categories at the end of the calendar year are all but guaranteed a spot on the Irukandjis team for next year’s ISA World Junior Surfing Titles.

After taking out the opening rounds of the GromSearch in style, Peterson, currently ranked sixth, moves on to the quarterfinals where he will meet one of the other form surfers of the event in Jimmi Hill.

Hill was the standout performer on Thursday as the event returned to Smiths Beach and perfect two-foot beach break, carving up a series of left-hand waves in a powerful showing.

You can watch the final two days of the event live, free and on demand on Streamer.

“I just wanted to get a good first turn and finish strong on my lefts,” Hill said.

“I love it down here, it’s always got fun little waves.”

The under-18 girls contest has meanwhile progressed to the semifinals, with Isla Huppatz looking like the one to beat after showing flair and strength in the opening round and quarterfinal.

The Queenslander took out the 10,000-rated Skyullcandy Oz Grom Open earlier this year. She’ll take on Ava Arghyros in the semifinal and no doubt have one eye on the other side of the draw, where rankings leader Ruby Berry will surf off against an in-form Gracy Gosby.

Ocean Lancaster stamped himself as one to watch on Thursday in the under-16 boys division, following up a solid ride with a clean air reverse. New South Wales’ Lani Cairncross also announced herself in the under-16 girls with a dominant day in the water - taking home wave of the day and one of the biggest combined scores of the day.

“I was just thinking in my head, don’t bog my rail or nose dive, just stick the landing, play it safe a little bit, and see how I go,” she said.

“The girls were shredding and catching heaps of waves—it’s so good to see all the girls from around Australia come and compete together.”