Three and repeat wins make for exciting conclusion to 2025 Billabong Grom Series Presented by Oceanbridge.  

The best young surfers in New Zealand had to contend with adverse West Coast surf conditions to round out the Billabong Grom Series presented by Oceanbridge over the weekend. 

Piha dished up cross offshore winds and a solid swell for the final day of the third event with large two-metre waves providing some show stopping performances for surfers to express themselves and strive for event and series honours. 

The grunty conditions did not stop six titles being awarded to our rising stars of the sport with Raglan surfer Maya Mateja and Dunedin’s own Alexis Owen taking the honours in the Under 18 Divisions.

Raglan's Luca Thompson secured his second win in as many events in the Under 16 Boys Division and was joined by fellow Raglan local Alani Morse who took her third win of the season in the Under 16 Girls. 

In the 14 girls it was Jade Nias Phillips of Ahipara who started the day as she started the series, with a comfortable win.

After making it two-from-two in the Under 14 Girls Division at Mount Maunganui and Whangamata her confidence in powerful west coast waves showed.

The young surfer from the far north looked calm and confident as she took the win at the third and final event of the series.

“I love the Billabong Grom Series, its super fun and it was really good to surf some bigger waves for the final event," Phillips said.
 
The natural footer dominated throughout the season, and it all came together for her at Piha.

“My plan was to just go out and have fun, try and get on the end of a few bombs, it was pretty dumpy, but I managed to find a couple of good ones."
 
Alba Clifford finished in second to go with a third and a fifth place finish at the Mount and Whangamata.

Local girl Ella Rebolledo Withers finished in third place with Madeline Smith finding herself for the second time this season finishing in fourth place after a great performance in the challenging mid tide conditions. 

In the Under 14 Boys heats Jaxon Pardoe (Gis) proved too strong for his opponents in an exciting end to the Under 14 boys’ division.

Pardoe, who has found himself a finals berth in each event in 2025 was on form surfing to a 12.2 heat total snatching the win from Ffeon Clifford (Mnt), Haru Marsden (Mnt), and Archie Alder (Gis) who came up short with a 9.90 heat total. 

In the Under 16 Boys Division Luca Thompson (Whaingaroa Maori Boardriders) proved too strong for his opponents in a solid scoring final. 

Missing out on the first event of the series, Thompson took out the second event in Whangamata and continued his fine form surfing to a 12.97-point heat total for the win.

“Yea it was good to surf some big conditions, I like a bit of power, so this weekend was different to my win in Whangamata. I felt like I could really show what I could do out there" he said.

Sol Fritchley (Mnt) pushed Thompson for the win but needing 5.75 on his final ride, came up short with a 5.40. Taj Phillips of Ahipara came in third whilst local Piha grom Zeke Pragert placed fourth.
 
In the 16 girls it was Alani Morse (Raglan) who surfed to her third win in the 3-event series. 

The strong natural-foot surfer attacked the Piha closeouts all day and set herself up nicely in the final when she scored an 8.33-point ride. 

From there, the pressure was on her opponents, and they couldn’t counter, Morse finishing with a 13.16-point heat total for the win. 

Poppy Arkle (Piha) got the nod over Lola Groube (Pau) for second place with Kyra Wallis in fourth place in which Morse described as a challenging heat.

"Yeah, it was pretty funny out there, it was big but not breaking consistently, some would be really fat and then they would just ledge up and close out, those conditions are fun though and I felt comfortable  out there, I’m stoked to make it three from three, it’s a real confidence boost after a few tough losses over the last year," Morse said.

Maya Mateja battled away against Piha surfer Leia Millar, Ayla Gee and Chloe Groube in the final of the Under 18 Girls Division.

Mateja who has one both Event 1 and 2 of the 2025 Billabong Grom Series held the edge for much of the final scoring a 7 for one big, committed turn and a 7.67 for a combo of quality turns and with 5 minutes to go Mateja had combo’d the field.

Not one to let up Mateja dropped an 8.67 to take an eventual win whilst the other competitors scrambled. 

Local girl Millar finishing with a runner up placing after a last minute 6.3 pushing her ahead of Groube and Ayla Gee who placed third and fourth respectively. 

Under 18 Boys Division Finalists - Lennox Jennings, Macka Hazard, Joe Goodjohn and Alexis Owen.  Photo/PhotoCPL.

In the final heat of the day an inform Alexis Owen (Dun) took to the water against Narrabeen local Macka Hazard, Bay Boardriders Joe Goodjohn and Whangamata local Lennox Jennings.

All boys were on form all event and in the final, they relished the chance to show their commitment in solid low tide drainers.

Hazard, who has travelled over from Australia for each Billabong Grom event this year looked poised and ready as he took on Owen trading 6s and 7s in a high scoring affair.

Channelling his success from event 2 in Whangamata the Narrabeen local looked at home in the powerfull Piha waves, quickly finding a 6.2 and 7.5.

Not one to let the pressure get to him Owen, fresh off a National title win quickly returned fire with a couple of sixes, before finding two mid-range sevens that would eventually win him the heat.

Joe Gooodjohn, not to be outdone found two mid sixes however they weren’t enough to jump ahead of Hazard earning him a third place finish.

Lennox Jennings of Whangamata couldn’t get on to the bombing sets and with the clock counting down he found himself in fourth position with a 4.6 and a 5.5. 

The Overall Series winners were also crowned after the tbree events in Mount Maunganui, Whangamata and the final event at Piha.

Congratulations to the following Overall Billabong Grom Champions for 2025

Under 18 Girls Maya Mateja (Rag)
Under 18 Boys Macka Hazard (Aus)

Under 16 Girls Alani Morse (Rag)
Under 16 Boys Sol Fritchley (Mnt)

Under 14 Boys Jaxon Pardoe (ECB)
Under 14 Girls Jade Nias Phillips (Ahipara)
  
Please see below for the 2025 Billabong Grom Series presented by Oceanbridge  Event 3 winners. 
 
Under 18 Boys – Alexis Owen
Under 18 Girls – Maya Mateja (Rag)

Under 16 Boys – Luca Thompson (WMB)
Under 16 Girls – Alani Morse (Rag)

Under 14 Boys – Jaxon Pardoe (ECB)
Under 14 Girls – Jade Nias Phillips (Ahipara)

Full results from the event can be viewed at www.Liveheats.com/SurfingNewZealand. 

Follow the action via social media @billabong on Instagram and @surfingnz across Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok. 
Follow the series hashtag – #BillabongGromSeries.