Thats a wrap on the 2025 NZ Grom Series! 🏆
We’ve crowned our champions, and we’re stoked to continue our Winner Spotlight Series!
Last time we featured Jaxon Pardoe, our U14 Boys Champ. Now it’s time to throw the spotlight on another rising star…
🎉 Introducing Jade Nias Phillips from Ahipara, Far North – your Under 14 Girls Champion for 2025!
📈 Jade’s 2025 Season Highlights:
🥇 Won all 3 events in the Billabong Grom Series
🥉 3rd place – 2025 National Championships in Taranaki
🥉 3rd place – Kaikōura Grom Comp
🥈 2nd place – South Island Champs
Consistency, determination, and major podium presence all year long – what a season!
💬 Quickfire Q\&A with Jade:
🔥 Favourite event of the season?
Sticky Johnson Primary School Champs – it brings surfers of all levels together and guarantees heaps of water time! Also love the Aotearoa Māori Surfing Titles held up north where we live.
🍌 Pre-comp fuel?
Bananas or an Up & Go!
🎶 Pump-up song before a surf
AC/DC** – always gets the vibes going ⚡️
🏄♀️ Dream surf buddy?
Carissa Moore – she’s changed women’s surfing forever. Or Erin Brooks – she shreds and has Canadian heritage like me
🌍 Dream wave to surf?
Abu Dhabi wave pool – it looked amazing in the WSL and I’ve never surfed a wave pool!
⛷️ If you could instantly master another sport?
Snowboarding!
🎯 Goals for next season?
To represent NZ at the ISA World Junior Surfing Games and surf up a division to level up my performance
🌟 Advice to groms trying their first comp? “Go for it & have fun!”
🙌 Shout-outs to the support crew:
Huge thanks to my dad for getting me to comps, my brother for coaching, my whānau for always backing me, Ahipara Boardriders, and my amazing sponsors @oneillnz & @skysurfschool for all the support 🏄♀️💙
Ka mau te wehi, Jade! Your results speak for themselves, but your stoke, dedication, and love for the sport make you a true champion. The future is bright!