2023 Rip Curl Gromsearch series set for launch at Jan Juc on Wadawurrung Country

Published on 14/09/2023

Over 90 competitors will descend on Jan Juc on Wadawurrung Country this weekend as the 2023 Rip Curl GromSearch series kicks off.

The Rip Curl GromSearch series began as a single day event in 1999 and has developed into a world-wide series providing groms with the opportunity to surf with friends and test their skills against the best junior talent in their country.

The impressive list of previous GromSearch competitors currently competing on the elite WSL world tour is testament to the quality of the series.

Top seed in the Under 16 Girls, Ava Holland (Mornington Peninsula, VIC) is excited to be surfing in from of a home crowd in a nationally rated event.

“The Rip Curl GromSearch is one of my favourite comps of the year, so saying I’m excited is an understatement.”

“The Under 16 girls division is so stacked, from top to bottom there is amazing surfers from all around Australia.”

“I’ve been lucky enough to be able to complete in a couple of comps up north this year, which led me to be sitting pretty high in the rankings this year. It’s always nerve-racking competing in comps but I’m working on just giving it my best for the back half the year.”

This year the event will see stops in Torquay and Newcastle, with a National final at URBNSURF Melbourne.

The long range forecast for the event is looking promising with a mid-sized groundswell on its way with offshore winds all weekend.

Schedules and Live scores can be found via www.surfingvic.com/live

Rip curl will also be donating one plant for every GromSearch participant, to be planted by SANE (Surfers Appreciating Natural Environment) to help their efforts in restoring the local Surf Coast ecology.

The Rip Curl GromSearch series is supported by event partners FCS & DHD, leaders in surf Hardware.

RIP CURL GROMSEARCH SERIES – 2023
EVENT 1 – Jan Juc, Vic – Sept 16-17, 2023
EVENT 2 – Newcastle, NSW – Sept 28- Oct 1, 2023
NATIONAL FINAL – URBNSURF – October

Age divisions in the GromSearch Series are:
Under 16 Girls and Boys
Under 14 Girls and Boys
Under 12 Girls and Boys

Former GromSearch finalists competing on the 2023 WSL World Tour include:
Tyler Wright, Steph Gilmore, Carissa Moore, Molly Picklum, Tatiana Weston-Webb, Caroline Marks, Brisa Hennessy & Isabella Nichols. (Note: GromSearch competitors have won the last 14 WSL women’s World Titles).

Former GromSearch finalists competing on the 2023 WSL World Tour include:
Gabriel Medina, Filipe Toledo, Italo Ferreira, Jack Robinson, Kanoa Igarashi, Ethan Ewing, Leonardo Fioravanti, Connor O’Leary, Seth Moniz, Griffin Colapinto, & Sammy Pupo. (Note: 9 out the to 10 surfer competing in the 2022 WSL finals were former GromSearch finalists, including both world Champions).

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