Freshly crowned National Champions, eager groms and local hopefuls are among the many young surfers competing in the sold-out first event of the Billabong Grom Series presented by Oceanbridge at Mount Maunganui this weekend.

The first of the three most popular events in the country is at Tay Street, Mount Maunganui with the series carrying on to Whangamata (February 8-9) and Piha (February 22-23).

With most of the top junior surfers available to compete, the action is expected to be as impressive as ever as kiwi groms battle it out to be the champion of the Billabong Grom Series.

The first event of each series has been held in the city of Tauranga for 20 years now and Tauranga City Council is proud to support the Billabong Grom Series in January, in a first for the series.

Deputy Mayor and Mauao/Mount Maunganui ward councillor, Jen Scoular, is thrilled to welcome this iconic event to Mount Maunganui for its 20th anniversary.

“Hosting such a prestigious surfing event in Mount Maunganui is much more than simply the competitive aspect—it’s about inspiring the next generation of surfers, fostering friendships, and showcasing the beauty of our coastal city.

“We’re proud to support an event that embodies the spirit of Tauranga, and we can’t wait to welcome surfers to our beautiful beach this summer.”

Billabong Grom Series. Photo / Guy Rencher/Coastal Surf Images

Newly crowned Boys Under 18 National Champion Tao Mouldey (Mount Maunganui) will be making the short trip down the road to his local where he hopes to make it two wins from two events in 2025 after a star performance in Taranaki.

Raglan surfer Jacob Haines will be attending and is ready to settle the score after his second-place finish at the Nationals, putting on an impressive display of skill in the solid Stent Road walls.

Theo Morse (Raglan) who placed third at the week-long event will also be in attendance looking to repeat his success from the 2023 and 2024 editions of the event in the hopes of making the New Zealand Junior Team again in 2025.

However, in his way will be a group of talented young surfers including, Sam Frazerhurst (Auckland), Cooper Roberts, Søren Bucka-Christensen (Taranaki) and Tava Santorik (Papamoa). A new face to the event, but not to competition will be Macka Hazard who resides in Australia. Extending his stay after taking on his Kiwi counterparts in the Nationals he will look to stir things up in the first event of the Grom Series.

In the hotly contested Under 16 boys it will be National Champion Vitor Bauermann (Mount Maunganui) who will be looking to for another first place finish at the event in 2025. While his teammates Sol Fritchley, Zen Mouldey, Remy Sale, Charlie Hartstone and a host of other talented grommets eager for the win stand in his way

Maya Mateja (Raglan) leads out the Under 18 Girls Division in the absence of National Champion Leia Millar. The division is brimming with talent in 2025 as the girls look to qualify for the New Zealand Junior Team.

In the stacked Under 14 Divisions, it is freshly crowned National Champion Jaxon Pardoe of Gisborne looking for another title, coming off an outstanding performance in Taranaki. Bay Groms Ffeon Clifford, Haru Marsden, Beau Broadhurst and Solomon Ryan will also be hot on his heels looking for redemption and to take out a title on their home turf.

In the girls division we will see a young crop of surfers talented surfers compete in the event with Millie Dyck (Mount Maunganui), Jade Phillips (ABC), Ella Withers (Piha) and Jayda Bramley (Mount Maunganui) just some of the young ladies amped to be heading to the friendly waves of Mount Maunganui.

Newly crowned Under 14 National Champ Zara Owen will be away competing at Westport in the South Island for the weekend.

The Billabong Grom Series presented by Oceanbridge offers up many surfers’ first taste of events, pitting themselves against their mates and taking in a fun two days of surfing and developing their skills in the ocean.

The 2025 edition of the series draws on a long history of fun with all of New Zealand’s current crop of elite surfers having taken part including Richard Christie (Gisborne), Paige Hareb (Taranaki), Billy Stairmand (Raglan), Saffi Vette (Gisborne), Mount Maunganui’s own Kehu Butler and Ella Williams (WGM).