Lola Groube, Photo Courtesy of Coastal Surf Images
Groms across the country are looking forward to the second event of the Billabong Grom Series presented by Oceanbridge as subtropical low Dovi makes its way across the country this weekend, just in time for the second of the three events to kick off at Whangamata on the Coromandel.
Early forecasts suggest contestable waves all weekend long with 1m waves and strong northerlies on Saturday before a bump in swell and increasing winds for Sunday. The Under 145 Boys and Girls Divisions and Under 16 Girls Division will be contested on Saturday with the Under 18 Boys and Under 16 Boys Divisions contested on Sunday.
The Billabong Grom Series presented by Oceanbridge at Whangamata is the second event of the series which kicked off at Mount Maunganui a fortnight ago and concludes in Auckland at Piha Beach on the 26th and 27th of February. With the series sold out, the Billabong Grom Series continues to be a favourite among up-and-coming young surfers across New Zealand. Spread across three divisions ranging from Under 14, Under 16 and Under 18, over 120 surfers will surf at Whangamata Beach, Access 8 on The Esplanade from 8am – 5pm daily.
Surfers from the surrounding Coromandel region are hoping to put on a display at their local with the likes of Lola Groube from Pauanui hunting the win off the back of her recent second placing in the Under 14 Girls Division at the Mount. Local Whangamata surfer Pia Rogers, the current National Champ for the under 16 girls will also be looking to channel her momentum from Westport and her second place in Mount Maunganui to take the top spot for the under 16 girls division this weekend.
Tao Mouldey from Mount Maunganui looks to continue his great form in the Under 16 Boys Division at Westport and the Mount. After a stella performance in the summery conditions of Tay Street, a contrast to what is expected this weekend, where he walked away with a first place and a solid lead in the rankings.
Kalani Louis (Tara) will be looking to defend his lead in the Under 18 Boys Division followed closely on his heels by Tyler Perry (Kaik) making the trip from Raglan where he is attending the Surfing Academy this year, and Finn Vette (Gis) hot off the back of his first event win for the year at Tay Street.
In its seventeenth year as a major sponsor, Billabong in partnership with Oceanbridge has been a proud supporter of junior surfing in New Zealand. Over the years the Billabong Grom series has involved almost all of New Zealand’s current crop of elite surfers including Ricardo Christie (Gis), Paige Hareb (Tara), Billy Stairmand (Rag), Kehu Butler and Ella Williams (WGM).
Surfers from Ahipara down to Dunedin will take part this weekend with action taking place at Access 8 on The Esplanade from 8am – 5pm daily. Live scoring can be viewed at www.compusurf.com.au.
Tyler Perry Photo Courtesy of Coastal Surf Images
COVID 19 Protocols
The event will be held using strict COVID 19 protocols. All participants will be required to sign in with their My Vaccine Pass and scan QR codes. Masks are required on the event site. The divisions will be split into two separate days and run through to completion to limit the number of participants at the event site.
Further Information
For further information on the 2021 Billabong Grom Series presented by Oceanbridge please contact Surfing New Zealand’s Ben Kennings on 021 2278732 or email benkennings@surfingnz.co.nz.
Imagery
High resolution action images of the surfing at all events on the Billabong Grom Series will be available to media free of charge.
Event Hotline
The Surfing New Zealand event hotline is 0211134506. This will be updated daily at approximately 7am with venue, divisions contested and conditions for the day.
Partners
Generous support from Billabong, presenting sponsors Oceanbridge, Kustom, Von Zipper and Dakine has made this series possible. The event is proudly hosted by Bay Boardriders.
Surfing New Zealand is proudly partnered by:
Sport New Zealand
Water Safety NZ
Skinnies
Volkswagen
