For immediate release
4 December 2024
From: Surfing New Zealand
Sport: Surfing
Event: 2025 Billabong Grom Series presented by Oceanbridge
Location: Mount Maunganui, Whangamata and Piha Beach
Event Info: Surfing New Zealand and Billabong
Celebrating 20 Years of Billabong Grom Series Presented by Oceanbridge in 2025
The Billabong Grom Series presented by Oceanbridge provides many young surfers with their first taste of competitive surfing. It’s a chance to challenge themselves against friends, enjoy two fun-filled days of surfing at each event, and develop their skills in the ocean. For some, it sparks a passion and drive for a future in competitive surfing.
With a long history of supporting grommet surfing in New Zealand Billabong and Oceanbridge proudly present the 2025 series and its 20th anniversary. If previous years are an indication, the series will sell out again as one of the highlights on the New Zealand Grom Series calendar.
“We are thrilled to support the junior development pathway of Surfing New Zealand through this series! These events are the definition of grass roots surfing, and we are proud to be a part of next wave of talent”. “The Billabong Grom Series has and will continue to leave an incredible legacy for the sport in NZ and we can’t wait to celebrate its 20-year anniversary”. See you guys there! Billabong.
Participants surf across three age groups – Under 18, 16 and 14s for boys and girls providing opportunities for all ability levels. Other enticing factors include national ranking points and points towards selection for the New Zealand Junior Surfing Team, something that many grommets will have their eye on with nine surfers from the 2024 Junior Surfing Team returning next year.
A majority of New Zealand’s elite surfers have taken part in the Grom Series over the past 20 years including Olympians Saffi Vette, Billy Stairmand and Ella Williams along with ex World Tour surfers Paige Hareb and Ricardo Christie.
Apart from the competitive side of the series the Billabong Grom events also bring the junior surfing community together for three weekends over the summer, a chance for groms to hangout, surf, enjoy the waves and build friendships.
Following on from the National Championships to be held in Taranaki just one week before, the hotly contested first event of the Billabong Grom Series will take place at Mount Maunganui. Freshly crowned National Champions, eager groms and local hopefuls will be amongst over 130 participants displaying their talent in the waves off Tay Street from the 25th to the 26th of January.
Tauranga City Council is proud to support the Billabong Grom Series in January, in a first for the series.
Deputy Mayor and Mauao/Mount Maunganui ward councillor, Jen Scoular, is thrilled to welcome this iconic event to Mount Maunganui for its 20th anniversary.
“Hosting such a prestigious surfing event in Mount Maunganui is much more than simply the competitive aspect—it’s about inspiring the next generation of surfers, fostering friendships, and showcasing the beauty of our coastal city. We’re proud to support an event that embodies the spirit of Tauranga, and we can’t wait to welcome surfers to our beautiful beach this summer.”
At the conclusion of Event 1, the Billabong Grom Series presented by Oceanbridge heads to Whangamata (8-9 February) and finally Piha at the end of February (22-23 February).
The 2025 NZ Grom Series comprises over 10 events nationwide with participants best four events counting toward their national ranking.
Event Dates
Event 1 25th-26th January 2025 Mount Maunganui, Tay Street
Event 2 – 8 – 9 February 2025, Whangamata
Event 3 – 22 – 23 February 2025, Piha Beach, Auckland
Further Information
For further information on the 2025 Billabong Grom Series presented by Oceanbridge please contact Surfing New Zealand’s Dan Westerkamp on 021 02672292 or email dan.westerkamp@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 for 20 years. We are proud to partner with Tauranga City Council for the first event of the series and thank Sun Bum and Cookie Time from their added support.
Follow the event
Follow the action via social media @billabong on Instagram and @surfingnz across Facebook, Instagram, X and TikTok.
Follow the series hashtag – #BillabongGromSeries.
Surfing New Zealand is proudly partnered by:
Sport New Zealand
Sun Bum
Cookie Time, OSM, Bumper Bars
Ends
