Grom Comps Are On! – Rip Curl GromSearch Series Announced for 2020
Victorian super grom Xavier Huxtable shreds the UrbnSurf pool at Tullamarine, earlier in 2020.
COASTALWATCH | NEWS
The Rip Curl GromSearch is an icnonic mainstay of junior competitive surfing in Australia – what with a ridiculous list of previous finalists that includes the likes of Tyler Wright, Steph Gilmore, Carissa Moore, Sally Fitzgibbons, Gabriel Medina*, Owen Wright, Italo Ferreira*, Jordy Smith*, Kolohe Andino*, Filipe Toledo and heaps more.
And the good news is it looks like we'll be getting it back in 2020, with three events announced today for the East Coast of Australia in the coming months, including one at the URBNSURF wave pool at Tullamarine in Melbourne. That'd make it the first time a pool has been used for a significant existing surfing competition series in Australia.
The other two comps include Newcastle, NSW on October 1-4 and Coolum, QLD on Dec 14-17. The wave pool event is scheduled for a single day between them on October 9.
A National Final is also on the books, at a yet to be determined location penned in the calendar for March 2021, made up of the top ranked surfers from the three events,across the six divisions (16 and Under Girls, 14 and Under Girls, 12 and Under Girls, 16 and Under Boys, 14 and Under Boys, and 12 and Under Boys).
“It’s been a tricky year for groms and their families with COVID-19 restrictions, so we want to continue to support the next generation of surfers and run a National series that crew can enjoy in their holidays,” says Rip Curl Event manager Mark Flanagan. "We know there might be challenges to run the series, but we’ll work with the appropriate authorities and be guided by the official regulations to get grommets in the water.”
The comps will be run in conjunction with their respective state surfing associations and will adhere to the appropriate health and safety regulations. Unfortunately, due to a shortened season, no GromSearch events will be held in South Aus and WA this year, but "events in those states will be re-assessed in due course".
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