For immediate release
20th February 2024
From: Surfing New Zealand
Sport: Surfing
Event: 2024 Billabong Grom Series presented by Oceanbridge – Event 3
Location: Piha Beach, Auckland
Event Info: Surfing New Zealand and Billabong
Final Showdown Set for Billabong Grom Series 2024.
Kiwi groms from around the country are lining up the final event of the Billabong Grom Series presented by Oceanbridge this weekend with six series titles on the line come Sunday.
Piha Beach provides the setting for the final event after stops at Mount Maunganui and Whangamata. The swell is expected to offer similar conditions compared with the first two events. A 1.0m swell and light winds is forecasted for Saturday with conditions expected to challenge participants on Sunday as the swell builds and wind swings onshore.
In the Under 18 Boys division, Taranaki surfer Spencer Rowson is looking for back-to-back wins in the final event of the series after a standout performance a fortnight ago in Whangamata. At home in powerful west coast waves, he will be one to watch in the final showdown at Piha this weekend, but with Tai Murphy of Whakatane right on his toes the Under 18 Boys division will be a guaranteed edge of your seat finish.
The Under 18 Girls Division is a head-to-head battle with current leader Leia Millar (Piha and Whangamata surfer Pia Rogers. With Rogers unavailable for the final event due to representing New Zealand at the ISA World Surfing Games in Puerto Rico it will be Piha local Poppy Arkle and Mount surfer Sophia Brock looking to take the top spot at this weekend’s final event.
The Under 16 Boys Division is the most hotly contested with the top surfers all in with a chance of taking out the series. Dunedin’s Alexis Owen has been on form all series alongside Sam Frazerhurst and looks forward to another win however Tyler Stenzel has been on form taking the win in the Mount and with a big performance this weekend could sneak up and grab the series with a big performance this weekend.
Raglan surfer and Series leader Maya Mateja is unavailable for the final event so Lola Groube, Chloe Groube and Alani Morse will be looking to take the lead. They will however need to get past an inform local surfer, Kyra Wallis which will be no easy feat.
Mount Maunganui’s Sol Fritchley is being chased by a big pack of surfers in the Under 14 Boys Division. The young natural foot surfer won the first two events of the series and he will be impossible to beat should he advance to the semifinals or further.
Pihas Ella Withers holds the upper-hand in the Under 14 Girls Division but far north surfer Jade Nias Phillips can seal her own fate with a win which may be enough to leap frog Withers and take the series.
Action will take place from 8:00am each day with surfing running through to late afternoon.
Please see below for current 2024 Billabong Grom Series presented by Oceanbridge standings after two of three events.
Under 18 Boys Top 5
1 Spencer Rowson
2 Tai Murphy
3 Tao Mouldey
4 Joe Goodjohn
5 George Laery
Under 16 Boys Top 5
1 Alexis Owen
2 Sam Frazerhurst
3 Tyler Stenzel
4 Harrison Biddle
5 Jaxon Willows
Under 14 Boys Top 5
1 Sol Fritchley
2 Jesse Frazerhurst
3 Vitor Bauermann
4 Jaxon Pardoe
5 Lennox Lindsay
Under 18 Girls Top 5
1 Leia Millar
2 Pia Rogers
3 Poppy Arkle
4 Sophia Brock
5 Skylar McFetridge
Under 16 Girls Top 5
1 Maya Mateja
2 Lola Groube
3 Alani Morse
4 Chloe Groube
5 Kyra Wallis
Under 14 Girls Top 5
1 Ella Withers
2 Jade Nias Phillips
3 Nami Marsden
4 Jayda Bramley
5 Millie Dyck
Full results and NZ Grom Series rankings can be viewed at www.Liveheats.com/SurfingNewZealand.
Further Information
For further information on the 2024 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 New Zealand
Volkswagen
Sun Bum
Ends
