For immediate release
23rd January 2025
From: Surfing New Zealand
Sport: Surfing
Event: 2025 Billabong Grom Series presented by Oceanbridge
Location: Tay Street, Mount Maunganui
Event Info: Surfing New Zealand and Billabong
Small swell set to kick off first event of the 2025 Billabong Grom Series
Freshly crowned National Champions, eager groms and local hopefuls are among the many young surfers taking part in the sold-out first event of the Billabong Grom Series presented by Oceanbridge being held at Mount Maunganui this weekend.
The first of the three most popular events in the country take place at Tay Street, Mount Maunganui with the series carrying on to Whangamata (8-9 February) and Piha at the end of February (22-23 February).
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.”
Newly crowned Boys Under 18 National Champion Tao Mouldey (Mnt) 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 (Rag) 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 (AKL), Cooper Roberts, Søren Bucka-Christensen (Tara) and Tava Santorik (Pap). 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 (Mnt) 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 (Rag) 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 (Mnt), Jade Phillips (ABC), Ella Withers (Piha) and Jayda Bramley (Mnt) 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 (Gis), Paige Hareb (Tara), Billy Stairmand (Rag), Saffi Vette (Gis), Mount Maunganui’s own Kehu Butler and Ella Williams (WGM).
It is the twentieth year that Billabong has sponsored the series in partnership with Oceanbridge who have been proud, long-time supporters of junior surfing in New Zealand.
Action takes place at Tay Street, Mount Maunganui from 8am until late afternoon on both Saturday and Sunday. Live scoring can be viewed at Liveheats.com/SurfingNewZealand.
At the conclusion of Event 1, the Billabong Grom Series presented by Oceanbridge heads to Whangamata (8-9 February) and finally Piha at the end of February (22-23 February).
Further Information
For further information on the 2025 Billabong Grom Series presented by Oceanbridge please contact Surfing New Zealand’s Dan Westerkamp on 021 02672292 or email dan.westerkamp@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.
Partners
Generous support from Billabong and presenting sponsors Oceanbridge has made this series possible for 20 years. We are proud to partner with Tauranga City Council for the first event of the series, Aotearoa Gaming Trust and thank Sun Bum and Cookie Time from their added support.
Follow the event
Follow the action via social media @billabong on Instagram and @surfingnz across Facebook, Instagram, X and TikTok.
Follow the series hashtag – #BillabongGromSeries.
Surfing New Zealand is proudly partnered by:
Sport New Zealand
ACC
Sun Bum
Cookie Time, OSM, Bumper Bars
Ends
Go to Surfing New Zealand
Author: Dan Westerkamp