For immediate release
8th February 2023
From: Surfing New Zealand
Sport: Surfing
Event: 2023 Billabong Grom Series presented by Oceanbridge – Event 2
Location: Whangamata
Event Info: Surfing New Zealand and Billabong
Tropical Cyclone on track to dampen Event 2 of the Grom Series
Participants in the second event of the Billabong Grom Series presented by Oceanbridge have been closely watching the subtropical cyclone that is marching down the East Coast of New Zealand this week.
Indications are that the start of the swell produced from the cyclone will build from Saturday morning and throughout the weekend with the event being held at Whangamata Beach on the Coromandel this Saturday and Sunday (11 – 12 February).
This weekend marks the second of three events in the series which started at Mount Maunganui two weeks ago and finishes at Piha, Auckland at the end of February.
Record demand for the event sees a large field of participants from around the country taking part. Local surfers from Whangamata and the surrounding Coromandel beaches are hoping they can put a dent in the impressive display shown by Bay Boardriders at the first Billabong Grom event at Mount Maunganui. The Mount Maunganui club led the rankings on home turf thanks to claiming three of six titles on offer.
The Coromandel will be well represented across all divisions with the Groube sisters Chloe and Lola hoping to make their mark in the Under 16 Girls Division as will the strong contingent of surfers from the Whangamata Surf Academy.
Academy student, Whangamata’s Pia Rogers, will be keen to find form in the Under 18 Girls Division while surfing in home waters after placing second to Sophia Brock (Mount), winner of the first Billabong Grom event of the season held at Mount Maunganui. Rogers also finished third at the National Championships held at Piha earlier in January.
Taranaki’s Spencer Rowson (Under 18 Boys), Tao Mouldey (Under 16 Boys), Leia Millar (Under 16 Girls) and Kyra Wallis (Under 14 Girls), will all be looking for back-to-back wins this weekend, with Wallis looking to extend her unbeaten streak this year.
Rowson leads a stacked field of surfers in the Under 18 Boys Division alongside Tyler Perry (Kaik), Navryn Malone (Rag) and Kalani Louis (Tara).
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.
The draw and rankings can be viewed at www.Liveheats.com/SurfingNewZealand.
Each of the three events in the series attracts upward of 130 surfers. It is the eighteenth edition of the Billabong Grom Series presented by Oceanbridge.
The series offers up many surfers first taste of events, pitting themselves against their mates and taking in a fun two days of surfing and developing their skills in the ocean. Participants also team up for their boardrider clubs with the top five surfer’s results from each club going toward overall club rankings.
The 2023 edition of the series draws on a long history of fun with all of New Zealand’s current crop of elite surfers having taken part including Richard Christie (Gis), Paige Hareb (Tara), Billy Stairmand (Rag), Mount Maunganui’s own Kehu Butler and Ella Williams (WGM).
Further Information
For further information on the 2023 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. Please contact Ben Kennings for further details.
Partners
Generous support from Billabong and presenting sponsors Oceanbridge has made this series possible.
Follow the event
Follow the action via social media @billabong on Instagram and @surfingnz across Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok.
Follow the series hashtag – #BillabongGromSeries.
Surfing New Zealand is proudly partnered by:
Sport NZ
Skinnies Sun Gel
Volkswagen
Arepa
Ends
