June 25, 1995 // Port Macquarie, Australia
Synopsis: With style and power well beyond his 14 years, Matt Banting has been steadily making a name for himself among the Aussie grom contingency with his flawless frontside airs and cutthroat approach to contests. Last year, at the 2008 Quiksilver King of the Groms final, Banting missed out on a first-place finish by a mere one-tenth of a point.
Variables: For Matt to make a bigger presence in the global surf scene, he’ll need to continue his strong showing in the Pro Junior and other top-tier international events.
Forecast: He’s already turning heads, creating a reputation for himself as one of the top groms coming out of Australia. Let’s see if he can hold true to the hype in the years to come.