Congratulations to the winners of the Rip Curl GromSearch Portugal! The second European stop was held on April 7th, 8th, and 9th in Costa da Caparica, near Lisbon.
Congratulations to the winners of the GromSearch Italy! The first European stop of the competition was held on Sunday, March 16, at Levante Beach, Fregene.
The event saw the UK’s Lukas Skinner successfully defend his title in the 16 & Under Boys division, while the USA’s Eden Walla claimed victory in the 16 & Under Girls.
The Rip Curl GromSearch International Final 2024, covered by Sun Bum kicked off on Tuesday, November 12th with finalists winning through from participating countries across the surfing globe to come together to showcase the future of surfing
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
European Final
All age divisions will be represented at the GromSearch European final. All the event winners will qualify for the European final. The remaining spots in each division will be made up of wildcards.
Rip Curl GromSearch International Champions:
2024 - Bali, Indonesia - Lukas Skinner (GB) & Eden Walla (USA)
2023 - Bells Beach, Victoria - Lukas Skinner (GB) & Erin Brooks (CAN)
2022 - Did not surf due to Covid restrictions
2021 - Did not surf due to Covid restrictions
2020 – Did not surf due to Covid restriction
2019 – Alfonso Atunes (PRT) & Caitlin Simmers (USA)
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.
The prestigious Rip CurlGromSearch International Final presented by Sun Bumtook place on the tropical island of Bali, fromNovember 13 to 17, 2024.
The winners wereLukas Skinner (UK) and Eden Walla (USA) — hugecongrats to both!
