Celebrating 21 Years of Billabong Grom Series Presented by Oceanbridge in 2026

The
Billabong
Grom
Series
presented
by
Oceanbridge
offers
up
many
youngsters
their
first
taste
of
a
surfing
event.
Putting
themselves
up
against
their
fellow
competitors
and
surfing
friends,
enjoying
a
fun
two
days
of
surfing
at
each
event,
developing
their
skills
in
the
ocean
and
inspiring
some
to
consider
their
future
as
a
competitive
surfer
in
Aotearoa.

With
a
long
history
of
supporting
grommet
surfing
in
New
Zealand,
Billabong
and
Oceanbridge
proudly
present
the
2026
series
and
celebrate
its
21st
anniversary.
If
previous
years
are
an
indication,
the
series
will
sell
out
again
as
one
of
the
highlights
on
the
New
Zealand
Grom
Series
calendar.

The
event
also
marks
the
second
of
eight
national
events
around
the
New
Zealand
coastline
as
part
of
the
“Epic
Break”
summer
campaign
showcasing
surfing
talent
and
celebrating
the
surfing
community
between
January
and
April.

Participants
surf
across
three
age
groups
–
Under
18,
16
and
14s
for
boys
and
girls
providing
opportunities
for
all
ability
levels.
Other
enticing
factors
include
national
ranking
points
and
points
towards
selection
for
the
New
Zealand
Junior
Surfing
Team,
something
that
many
grommets
will
have
their
eye
on
with
a
number
of
surfers
from
the
2025
Junior
Surfing
Team
returning
this
year.

A majority of
New
Zealand’s
elite
surfers
have
taken
part
in
the
Grom Series over
the
past
21
years
including
Olympians
Saffi
Vette,
Billy
Stairmand
and
Ella
Williams
along
with
ex
World
Tour
surfers
Paige
Hareb
and
Ricardo
Christie
and
the
likes
of
talented
free-surfer
Kehu
Butler.

Apart
from
the
competitive
side
of
the
series
the
Billabong
Grom
events
also
bring
the
junior
surfing
community
together
for
three
weekends
over
the
summer,
a
chance
for
groms
to
hangout,
surf,
enjoy
the
waves
and
build
friendships.

Following
on
from
the
National
Championships
held
in
Gisborne
just
last
week,
the
hotly
contested
first
event
of
the
Billabong
Grom
Series
will
take
place
at
Mount
Maunganui.

Freshly
crowned
National
Champions,
eager groms and
local
hopefuls
will
be
amongst
over
130
participants displaying
their
skills
in
the
surf
at Tay
Street
Beach
from
the
31^st
January
to
the
1^st
February.

At
the
conclusion
of
Event
1,
the
Billabong
Grom
Series
presented
by
Oceanbridge
heads
to Whangamata
(14-15th
February)
and
then
the
third
and
final
event
is
set
to
take
place
at
Piha
Beach
on
February
28^th
–
March
1^st.

The
2026
NZ
Grom
Series
comprises
over
10
events
nationwide
with
participants
best
four
events
counting
toward
their
national
ranking.

Event
Dates

Event
1
–
31st
January
–
1^st
February
2026,
Mount
Maunganui,
Tay
Street
Beach.
Event
2 –
14^th-15th
February
2026,
Whangamata
Beach.
Event
3 –
28^th
February
–
1^st
March
2026,
Piha
Beach,
Auckland.

Further
Information
For
further
information
on
the
2026
Billabong
Grom
Series
presented
by
Oceanbridge
please
contact
Surfing
New
Zealand’s
Gavin
Bisman
–
027-446-4174
/

gavin.bisman@surfingnz.co.nz

Imagery
High
resolution
action
images
of
the
surfing
at
all
events
on
the
Billabong
Grom
Series
will
be
available
to
media
free
of
charge.
Please
contact
Ben
Kennings
for
further
details
–

ben.kennings@surfingnz.co.nz