The annual ABC Grommie Surf Competition made waves this year, literally and figuratively, with a landmark event held for the first time at Awana Beach. Traditionally hosted at Medlands, the change of scenery proved a resounding success, adding to an already exceptional day of surfing.
This year’s competition saw a record-breaking 23 entries, with an impressive 10 female surfers taking to the waves – the highest number of girls ever to participate in the event’s history! The competition drew a diverse crowd, including local groms, visitors from our sister club, Mangawhai Board Riders (MBR), and surfers from Tauranga and Auckland. A particularly proud moment for the ABC Surf School was seeing half of the entries coming from their own ranks, with many local kids bravely entering their first-ever competition.
The sheer number of female participants led to another historic first: separate girls’ and boys’ divisions. This meant five divisions in total, a significant increase from the usual three, allowing for fairer and more exciting competition.
Under a bright, sunny sky and with perfect waves rolling in, Awana Beach buzzed with excitement. Groms, their families, supporters, and ABC members gathered for a day of thrilling surfing and community spirit, fuelled by the ever-popular gourmet BBQ.
The Under 16s kicked off the day, going straight to finals due to the morning’s larger swells. The Under 12 boys followed with two heats and a final, before the Under 14 girls and the Micro Grom divisions took to the water, their nervous energy quickly turning into pure joy. The judges’ table, led by Sid and supported by volunteers like Zephyr, was kept busy throughout the day.
A highlight of the competition was the success of a Tauranga surfing family, with both the Under 12 boys and Micro Grom girls winners hailing from their ranks. Jordy, the Under 12 winner, impressed everyone with his skills and aspirations to join the Scholastics Surf regional team. His family expressed their gratitude for the opportunity to participate in such a friendly and well-organized event.
The Under 16 boys’ division saw a strong showing from our MBR friends, with Ollie Clark taking first place and Layne Panhuis securing second. The ABC members were thrilled to share the beach with their MBR family, this time focusing on the groms. The Under 14 girls’ division was equally exciting, with Zoe Green taking the top spot, a testament to the success of the new girls’ division.
Results:
- Under 16 Boys:
- 1st: Ollie Clark (MBR)
- 2nd: Layne Panhuis (MBR)
- 3rd: Sam
- Under 14 Girls:
- 1st: Zoe Green
- 2nd: Aleah
- 3rd: Millie Siegrist
- Under 12 Boys:
- 1st: Jordy (Tauranga)
- 2nd: Flint Yates
- 3rd: Dusky Bellerby
- Micro Grom Girls:
- 1st: Heidi (Tauranga)
- 2nd: Rosa Yates
- 3rd: Nixie Davenport
- Micro Grom Boys:
- 1st: Gillion Langford
- 2nd: Zeke Bellerby
- 3rd: Forrest Bellerby
The event was made possible by the generous support of numerous local businesses and ABC supporters, who donated prizes and BBQ supplies. A huge thank you to: Barrier Ice: Wayne Anderson, Outpost, Barrier ITM, Stonewall Store, Mulberry Grove Store, Burga Shak, Centre Market Produce, Sweaty Ass, RG Contracting, Terry Green. Special thanks to Guy Mac for capturing the day’s highlights with his fantastic photography.
The ABC extends its heartfelt gratitude to all the volunteers who helped set up, pack down, man the BBQ, and judge the competition, as well as to all the families who made the day such a memorable success. We look forward to seeing you all again next year!
