The Billabong Grom Series presented by Oceanbridge offers up many youngsters their first taste of a surfing event. Putting themselves up against their fellow competitors and surfing friends, enjoying a fun two days of surfing at each event, developing their skills in the ocean and inspiring some to consider their future as a competitive surfer in Aotearoa.
With a long history of supporting grommet surfing in New Zealand, Billabong and Oceanbridge proudly present the 2026 series and celebrate its 21st 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.
The event also marks the second of eight national events around the New Zealand coastline as part of the “Epic Break” summer campaign showcasing surfing talent and celebrating the surfing community between January and April.
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 a number of surfers from the 2025 Junior Surfing Team returning this year.
A majority of New Zealand’s elite surfers have taken part in the Grom Series over the past 21 years including Olympians Saffi Vette, Billy Stairmand and Ella Williams along with ex World Tour surfers Paige Hareb and Ricardo Christie and the likes of talented free-surfer Kehu Butler.
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 held in Gisborne just last week, 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 skills in the surf at Tay Street Beach from the 31st January to the 1st February.
At the conclusion of Event 1, the Billabong Grom Series presented by Oceanbridge heads to Whangamata (14-15th February) and then the third and final event is set to take place at Piha Beach on February 28th – March 1st.
The 2026 NZ Grom Series comprises over 10 events nationwide with participants best four events counting toward their national ranking.
Event Dates
Event 1 – 31st January – 1st February 2026, Mount Maunganui, Tay Street Beach.
Event 2 – 14th-15th February 2026, Whangamata Beach.
Event 3 – 28th February – 1st March 2026, Piha Beach, Auckland.
Further Information
For further information on the 2026 Billabong Grom Series presented by Oceanbridge please contact Surfing New Zealand’s Gavin Bisman – 027-446-4174 / gavin.bisman@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 – ben.kennings@surfingnz.co.nz
Partners
Generous support from Billabong and presenting sponsors Oceanbridge has made this series possible for 21 years.
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 #EpicBreak
Surfing New Zealand is proudly partnered by:
Sport New Zealand
ACC
Sun Bum
Kiwi Holiday Insurance
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