2020 Rip Curl GromSearch Series

Erin Brooks and Lukas Skinner crowned 2023 Rip Curl GromSearch International Champions.

Twelve of the finest junior surfers from around the world met at Bells Beach to compete for the prestigious title of Rip Curl GromSearch International Champion. National Champions and wildcards from GromSearch events around the globe descended on the famous point break for a week amongst the elite Championship Tour (CT) athletes at the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach.

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Owen Wright introduces #GromSearchOnline ahead of the 2023 GromSearch National Final - URBNSURF.

72 of the finest junior surfers from around the country will battle it out in perfect waves at URBNSURF Melbourne for the prestigious title of GromSearch National Champion on Monday 6th March. Finalists from the recently completed Australian Rip Curl GromSearch series will be joined by wildcards from the #GromSearchOnline event to enjoy a day of perfect waves in the 2-hectare lagoon.

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2022 Highlights from GromSearch Jan Juc and Merewether!

Lani Cairncross And Surf Coast Local Kai Colman Crowned Champions At The Rip Curl Gromsearch

Competition resumed at Jan Juc for Day 2 of the Rip Curl Grom Search qualifiers with the competitors being greeted with a welcomed increase in wave size.

Champions Crowned at the GromSearch NSW Championships

The final day of competition brought perfect surfing from Australia’s best grommets at the Rip Curl GromSearch National Qualifier held in Merewether, NSW.

The Rip Curl GromSearch series started as a one-day surfing event at Victoria’s Jan Juc beach in 1999 and has developed to a worldwide series of events designed specifically for the 16 years and under surfer, commonly termed ‘grommets’.

The series is designed to provide fun events for groms to enjoy themselves and meet crew from around the country, whilst developing their competitive game. As athletes progress to finals the elite level of competition comes into play, with many previous GromSearch competitors going on to the WSL world tour.


Men's WSL athletes that were former GromSearch finalists include: Gabriel Medina, Owen Wright, Italo Ferreira, Jordy Smith, Kolohe Andino, Filipe Toledo, Kanoa Igarashi, Ryan Callinan, Leonardo Fioravanti, Connor O’Leary & Morgan Cibilic. (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)


Women's WSL athletes - Tyler Wright, Carissa Moore, Steph Gilmore, Sally Fitgibbons, Malia Manuel, Nikki Van Dijk, Tatiana Weston-Webb, Bronte McCaulay, Caroline Marks, Macy Callaghan, Brisa Hennessy, Isabella Nichols & Bethany Hamilton. (Note: GromSearch competitors have won the last 13 WSL women’s World Titles & compile 12 of the current 18 athletes on the women’s WT).


Divisions

BOYS

  • 16 and Under Boys
  • 14 and Under Boys
  • 12 and Under Boys

GIRLS

  • 16 and Under Girls
  • 14 and Under Girls
  • 12 and Under Girls

National Final

All age divisions will be represented at the GromSearch National final. Qualification for the National final will be via a surfer’s placing at each individual event. At this stage, the first three surfers in each division, of each event, will qualify for the National final. The remaining spots in each division will be made up of wildcards.


Rip Curl GromSearch Australian Champions (16’s division):
  • 2021 UrbnSurf, Vic - Lennix Smith (NSW) & Ellie Harrison (VIC)
  • 2020 Woonona, NSW – Mike Clayton-Brown (NSW) & Millie Allport (NSW)
  • 2019 Woonona, NSW – Finn Cox (WA) & Molly Picklum (NSW)
  • 2018 Wonoona, NSW – Finn Hill (NSW) & Piper Harrison (Qld)
  • 2017 North Narrabeen, NSW – Jay Brown (NSW) & Sasha Baker (Qld)
  • 2016 North Narrabeen, NSW – Lain O’Brien (Qld) & Sophia Fulton (NSW)
  • 2015 North Narrabeen, NSW – Kael Walsh (WA) & Jaleesa Vincent (Qld)
  • 2014 Coolum, Qld – Jackson Giles (NSW) & Isabella Nichols (Qld)
  • 2013 Coolum, Qld - Jackson Baker (NSW) & Isabella Nichols (Qld)
  • 2012 Coolum, Qld – Tommy Boucaut (NSW) & Kirsten Ogden NSW)
  • 2011 Coolum, Qld – Mitch Parkinson (Qld) & Ellie-Jean Coffey (NSW)
  • 2010 RCPro Bells Beach - Creed McTaggert (WA) & Nikki Van Dijk (Vic)
  • 2009 RCPro Bells Beach - Thomas Woods (Qld) & Felicity Palmateer (WA)
  • 2008 RCPro Bells Beach - Ryan Callinan (NSW) & Laura Enever (NSW)
  • 2007 RCPro Bells Beach – Davey Cathels (NSW) & Laura Enever (NSW)
  • 2006 RCPro Bells Beach – Stuart Kennedy (NSW) & Sally Fitzgibbons (NSW)
  • 2005 RCPro Bells Beach – Shaun Stevic (Qld) & Jessica Hickson (NSW)
  • 2004 RCPro Bells Beach – Matt Wilkinson (NSW) & Stephanie Gilmore (NSW)
  • The first GromSearch National final was held during the 2004 Rip Curl Pro, Bells and was won by Matt Wilkinson and Steph Gilmore.


Rip Curl GromSearch International Champions:
  • 2020 – Did not surf due to Covid restrictions
  • 2019 – Alfonso Atunes (PRT) & Caitlin Simmers (USA)
  • 2018 – Xavier Huxtable (AUS) & Keala Tomoda- Bannert (HAW)
  • 2017 – Kade Mtson (USA) & Caroline Marks (USA
  • 2016 – Nolan Rapoza (USA) & Brisa Hennessy (HAW)
  • 2015 – Samuel Pupo (BRA) & Leilani McGonagle (CRI)
  • 2014 – Pat Curren (USA) & Brisa Hennessy (HAW)
  • 2013 – Leonardo Fioravanti (ITL) & Tatiana Wetson-webb (HAW)
  • 2012 – Dylan Lightfoot (ZAF) & Tatiana Wetson-webb (HAW)
  • 2011 – Mitch Parkinson (AUS) & Nikki Van Dijk (AUS)
  • 2010 – Gabriel Medina (BRA) & Bianca Buitendag (ZAF)
  • 2009 – Thomas Woods (AUS) & Nikki Van Dijk (AUS)
  • 2008 – Dale Staples (ZAF) & Malia Manuel (HAW)
  • 2007 – Tyler Newton (HAW) & Tyler Wright (AUS)
  • 2006 – Owen Wright (AUS) & Alana Blanchard (HAW)
  • 2005 – Mason Ho (HAW) & Nikita Robb (ZAF)
  • The first GromSearch International final was held as part of the 2005 Rip Curl Pro, Bells Beach. Mason Ho won the boys ahead of Jordy Smith and Matt Wilkinson.


Total International titles by country:

15 YEARS, 30 TITLES.

  • Australian - 7
  • Brazil - 2
  • Costa Rican - 1
  • Hawaiian - 8
  • Italy - 1
  • Portugal - 1
  • South African - 4
  • USA - 6

Rip Curl 2019 GromSearch Australian Series
EventLocationDate
Event 1 Jan Juc, VIC Sept 17-18, 2022
Event 2 Newcastle, NSW Sept 29-Oct 2, 2022
Event 3 Coolum, QLD Dec 12-15, 2022
National Final UrbnSurf Melbourne Monday 6th March, 2023 (TBC)