Action-Packed Start On Phillip Island For The 2025 Rip Curl GromSearch Phillip Island

Phillip Island, VIC (Tuesday 30th September, 2025): Day 1 of the 2025 Rip Curl GromSearch Phillip Island Presented by Bass Coast Shire kicked off in style at Cape Woolamai, as Australia’s best young surfers took to the water in cool, wet conditions. Even a lightning delay couldn’t dampen the energy, with competitors delivering strong performances throughout the day.

The U16 Boys set the tone early, with Locana Cullen (Avalon Beach, NSW) dominating the opening heat with a massive 8.50-point ride. Linking together clean, precise rail work, Cullen progressed comfortably with the heat win.

Closing out Round 1 of the 16 & Under Boys, Rip Curl’s own Zac Johnson showed impressive resilience after the lightning delay, powering through his heat to secure a combined score of 10.23, including a 5.00-point ride backed up by a solid 5.23.

“We were looking at it when it went on hold, and there weren’t many waves coming through,” reflected Johnson. “But there was an odd good set that had a lot of scoring potential, so we stuck to the game plan and waited for priority with the sets.”

Looking ahead, Zac added: “We’ll see what the next few days bring,” and “Hopefully it all works out.”

Ffeon Clifford (U14, Malaguni, NZ) stole the spotlight with the Surf Better Now Wave of the Day in a thrilling heat that came down to a tiebreaker between himself and Lennox Lindsay with an 8.00-point ride, followed by a 5.67.

Following his heat, Clifford described his 8.00-point wave, “I just went with my gut, I was confident and just kinda went for it.” Reflecting on the ride, he added: “I went up to the lip and hoped I’d land it because I gave it a bit more than I usually do. I kinda just milked it all the way through.”

When asked about being in Phillip Island, Clifford couldn’t hide his excitement. “The waves are insane,” he said. “Where we come from, it’s half a foot on shore every day, so this is just unreal.”

As Day 1 drew to a close, the young surfers left the water buzzing with excitement, showing resilience, skill, and style despite the challenging conditions. With standout performances from Locana Cullen, Zac Johnson, and Ffeon Clifford, the competition has already delivered thrilling moments and unforgettable waves. With more heats and high-calibre surfing to come, the next few days at Phillip Island promise plenty of GromSearch action.

Live scores and schedule can be found via https://liveheats.com/events/382022   

The Rip Curl GromSearch Phillip Island is presented by Rip Curl, Bass Coast Shire and Phillip Island and supported by the Victorian Government, Skin Health Australia, Surfing Australia, Beyond Coconut Water, Parklane Holiday Parks, Phillip Island Boardrider Club and Surf Better Now.