Rip Curl GromSearch Takes Over Sydney

U16 Boys

72 young surfers aged 16 and under took over Sydney’s UrbnSurf wave pool on Monday to compete for the National GromSearch Champion title. The competitors battled it out across three different age groups: U12s, U14s, and U16s, under scorching conditions, with recently crowned World Champion and former GromSearch finalist Molly Picklum in attendance.

“It’s so nostalgic for me to come down here and see all of the groms competing at GromSearch because it doesn’t feel like that long ago that it was me,” said 2025 Surfing World Champion Molly Picklum. “GromSearch was everything to me growing up, I wanted to win so badly, so to come back as a World Champion and see how far I’ve come feels so surreal.”

Locana Cullen from Sydney’s Northern Beaches and Queensland’s Eliza Richardson took out the Under 16s division, both winning an all-expenses-paid trip to the GromSearch International Final in Hossegor, France to compete against other GromSearch finalists from around the world, including North America, Europe, Brazil, Indonesia, South Africa, and more.

U16 Girls

“I had such a great time down here at UrbnSurf, all of the girls were ripping,” said event winner Eliza Richardson. “I came in with a goal to win this thing [the event] so I could go to France, I’m just so stoked I get to go with Molly!”

Competitors earned their spots at the National Final through standout performances at regional events in Coffs Harbour and Phillip Island earlier this year.

Lennox Lindsay claimed the title in the U14 boys division, while Mila Grainger triumphed in the U14 girls. Hayden Mee took out the U12 boys, with Sage Fleming securing the win in the U12 girls division.

Since 1999, the GromSearch series has been a launching pad for over 40,000 surfers aged 16 and under.

Past winners include World Surf League World Champions Caitlin Simmers, Caroline Marks, and Gabriel Medina. Other notable winners include Championship Tour surfers Erin Brooks, Brisa Hennessy, Samuel Pupo, Leonardo Fioravanti, Tatiana Weston-Webb, Owen Wright, and one of the most stylish free surfers on the planet, Mason Ho, among many other greats of the sport.

The impact of the GromSearch series over the past 26 years is undeniable:

• 2025 World Surf League World Tour: Over 60% of current Championship Tour athletes are former GromSearch winners.

• Olympics: Five of the six medalists at the last two Olympic Games competed in Rip Curl GromSearch.

• World Surf League Women’s World Champions: The last 18 WSL Women’s World Titles have been won by GromSearch finalists.

The GromSearch International Final will take place in Hossegor, France from November 4th to 8th and will be live streamed at https://www.youtube.com/ripcurl.

About Rip Curl

Founded in Torquay, Australia, in 1969, Rip Curl remains a company built by surfers for surfers. Regarded as The Ultimate Surfing Company, for over 50 years Rip Curl has endeavored to make the best products, run the best events, support the best athletes, deliver the best customer service, and have the best crew of people. The Search is the driving force that led to the creation of Rip Curl, and it lives in the spirit of everything the Rip Curl crew do.

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