The Rip Curl GromSearch, a hallmark of surfing’s youth development, is celebrating its 25th year with an exciting international final held in the vibrant surf town of Canggu, Bali. This year’s event brought together regional champions from around the world to compete on the playful and punchy right-hand waves at Bali’s iconic beachbreak.
Originally launched in 1999 at Jan Juc Beach in Victoria, Australia, the GromSearch started as a single-day event. Over the years, it has evolved into a global series, showcasing the next generation of surfing talent. The 2024 edition culminated in Canggu, where young surfers faced off in a unique format aimed at showcasing their individual abilities.
Though conditions in Bali can often be unpredictable, organizers decided to move forward with the competition after a quick scouting session the day before. The waves offered playful 3-foot rights that proved to be perfect for the groms to show their skills, especially in the non-elimination round, where surfers only needed to score on their best wave.
Judges for the day included three of surfing’s elite: seven-time world champion Stephanie Gilmore, current World Tour standout Molly Picklum, and former CT surfer Rosy Hodge. They scored each heat based solely on the surfers’ highest-scoring wave, a departure from the traditional format of cumulative scoring. The unique judging setup added a new layer of strategy to the competition, encouraging surfers to go big on their best wave.
The standout performance of the day came from local talent Jasmine Stunder, who earned the highest score of the round with a 7.77. Stunder impressed the judges with two clean backside snaps in the pocket, showcasing her ability to make the most of the playful conditions.
On the boys’ side, a rising star emerged in 16-year-old Lukas Skinner from Perranporth, England. Known for his lightning-fast surfing, Skinner wowed the judges with an 8-point ride that featured a huge air reverse into the flats. His performance made it clear he’s one to watch as he heads into the next rounds.
American surfer Lucas Cassity, another standout, proved his reputation as a high-flyer by landing a solid air-reverse combo, a display of his air game that earned him recognition after his victory in the Stab High Japan competition. Meanwhile, Dylan Donegan, the reigning ISA World Junior U16 Champion from the Canary Islands, clinched the highest score of the day, a perfect 9, for a series of quick turns and airs that demonstrated his impressive progression.
The event concluded with a fun and competitive tag-team session featuring Gilmore, Picklum, and Hodge. In this team format, surfers were required to tag their teammate onshore after completing a wave, similar to the Boardriders-style events. Team Rosy emerged victorious with 45.75 points, edging out Team Steph (41.64) and Team Molly (30.75). Local surfer Aditya Somiya, just 14 years old, earned a solid 8.5 for three powerful snaps, contributing to Team Rosy’s win.
The day’s festivities highlighted not only the impressive talent of the younger surfers but also the lasting influence of seasoned pros like Gilmore, Picklum, and Hodge, who continue to inspire the next generation. For these groms, sharing waves with legends like Gilmore and getting the chance to showcase their talents on the global stage marks a memorable milestone in their surfing journeys.
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