#GromSearchOnline Returns Ahead Of The GromSearch National Final To Be Held At URBNSURF.

Qualifying athletes from the Rip Curl GromSearch series will enjoy a day of surfing non-stop perfect waves in the 2-hectare lagoon.

Before some of Australia’s top grommets flood the pool at URBNSURF, Rip Curl will be awarding lucky surfers the chance to score a Wildcard entry to the National Final on March 7th.

Rip Curl event director Mark Flanagan says, “The Rip Curl GromSearch National Final was awesome last year at URBNSURF so we’re excited to head back there again. We are making a few changes to the format to give competitors even more time in the water, so that qualifiers, and #GromSearchOnline Wildcards, have every opportunity to challenge for the National GromSearch Title.”

You may be asking, how do I score a Wildcard spot? Well, we are welcoming the return of #GromSearchOnline! This online only event will allow you to submit your greatest surf clips via Instagram where a panel of former GromSearch finalists, now professional Rip Curl athletes, will judge and decide on winners based on their favourite clips.

Your Wildcard Selectors Are…

Former GromSearch Finalists, now Rip Curl professional athletes, Morgan Cibilic, Molly Picklum, Jackson Baker and Brisa Hennessy. Each athlete will post a short Instagram clip explaining their Wildcard category. They will then pick 2 Wildcard winners from the #GromSearchOnline entrants.

Here’s What You Need To Do To Enter!

Entry: Post your best surf clips on Instagram with the hashtag #GromSearchOnline. Tag @ripcurl_aus with your name, age division and location. (Enter as many times as you like!)

Example Caption:

“Jamie Jamieson, 16 and Under Girls, Gerroa, New South Wales, Australia, #GromSearchOnline, @ripcurl_aus”

Date: 4th February – 1st March.

Wildcards: Wildcards to be chosen by Professional Athletes and Rip Curl. Six wildcards per age division. Each wildcard chosen gets to compete at the Rip Curl GromSearch National Final. Held at URBNSURF Melbourne on Monday 7th March, 2022.

Entry Rules:

Cost: #GromSearchOnline is free to enter.
Division: You can only enter one age division, ages cut-off is the same as the GromSearch event series.
Video Clips: To increase your chances be sure to enter each clip separately, and in regular motion (no slow motion). We suggest that you aim to include the full completion in any clip entered, we don’t want the wildcard selectors to be guessing if you made it or not. Full waves, multiple turns or single turns will all be considered.

Labelling Your Entry:

• Name
• Age Division
• Location
• #GromSearchOnline
• @ripcurl_aus

Competition Clips: Clips entered from previously surfed competitions from 2021 will be accepted.

Video Quality: Any camera quality is allowed; home video camcorder, iPhone, Surfline Camera Rewind, etc. However, clear quality is preferred.

Video Clip Deadline: Must be submitted on or before March 1st 11:59pm AEST

Video Clip Usage: By entering the #GromSearchOnline competition your video may be used across Rip Curl's social media accounts.

Divisions:
16 and Under - Girls & Boys
14 and Under - Girls & Boys
12 and Under - Girls & Boys

GOODLUCK, GROMS!

History - GromSearch Former Winners:

Women's WSL athletes that were former GromSearch finalists include: Tyler Wright, Carissa Moore, Steph Gilmore, Sally Fitgibbons, Tatiana Weston-Webb, Caroline Marks, Brisa Hennessy, Isabella Nichols, Bethany Hamilton, and Molly PIcklum. (*note: GromSearch competitors have won the last 14 WSL women’s World Titles & compile 12 of the current 18 athletes on the women’s WT).

Men's WSL athletes that were former GromSearch finalists include;
Gabriel Medina, Morgan Cibilic, Owen Wright, Italo Ferreira, Filipe Toledo, Kanoa Igarashi, Jordy Smith, Kolohe Andino and Jackson Baker.
(Note that 4 of the top 5 surfers in the 2021 WSL Finals are all former GromSearch finalists, as well as 20 of the 34 athletes on the men’s WT)