Palm Springs, California – October 4, 2024 – The 2024 Rip Curl GromSearch National Final, held at the Palm Springs Surf Club, showcased the best young surfers in the country under the blazing 110-degree sun. The state-of-the-art wave pool produced perfect 4-foot A-frame waves, performance waves, and slab waves, setting the stage for an unforgettable competition full of barrels and air. Groms who competed had qualified in the California, Florida, and Hawaii GromSearch events, along with some athlete & sponsor selected wildcards.
This year, champions were crowned across four divisions: Girls Under 14, Boys Under 14, Girls Under 16, and Boys Under 16. Notable performances included Eden Walla from San Clemente, California, who secured the title of Girls Under 16 Champion, and Lucas Cassity from Todos Santos, Mexico, who was named Boys Under 16 Champion.
Specialty awards were also presented, highlighting outstanding performances: Banzai Bowls Best Air went to Beckham McCart, Lost Surfboards Highest Single Wave Score earned by Eden Walla, and the Soft Tech Surfboards Expression Session winner was taken by Brodi Buck.
The event attracted an impressive 25,000+ viewers who tuned in via the @couchsurfingshow to catch all the action. For those who missed the live broadcast, the full replay is available here: Watch the Replay.
As champions, Walla and Cassity will represent the USA at the GromSearch International Final in Bali, Indonesia, scheduled for November 13th – 17th, 2024. They will compete against regional champions from Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, France, Spain, Indonesia, and more, all vying for the prestigious International Title.
Rip Curl is also excited to announce that wildcard entries are still being accepted for the GromSearch International Final. From now until October 15th groms can upload their clips to TikTok using the hashtag #GromSearchOnline. Legendary surfers including 8-time World Champion Steph Gilmore, 3-time World Champion Gabriel Medina, and surf star Mason Ho will select the final two wildcard spots for this coveted event. All entry details can be found here: Enter #GromSearchOnline!
Join us in celebrating the talent and spirit of the next generation of surfers; we are so proud of everyone who came out and competed at Palm Springs Surf Club. For more information about Rip Curl GromSearch and upcoming events, please visit Rip Curl GromSearch or follow us on social media @ripcurl.
Results
Girls Under 14
1st Place: Zoey Kaina
2nd Place: Isla Hardy
3rd Place: Zoë Panettiere
4th Place: Happy Sager
Boys Under 14
1st Place: Merrik Mochkatel
2nd Place: Finn Castle
3rd Place: Zion Walla
4th Place: Wyatt Yount
Girls Under 16
1st Place: Eden Walla (heading to International Final in Bali)
2nd Place: Bailey Turner
3rd Place: Alana Lopez
4th Place: Lanea Mons
Boys Under 16
1st Place: Lucas Cassity (heading to International Final in Bali)
2nd Place: Makai Castle
3rd Place: Pax Tybuszewski
4th Place: Tommaso Layson
Specialty Event Winners
- Banzai Bowls Best Air ($600 Cash Prize): Beckham McCart (fins free, nosepick, air reverse)
- Lost Surfboards Highest Single Wave Score (Custom Lost Surfboard Prize): Eden Walla, 9.6 (on slab wave)
- Soft Tech Expression Session (Soft Tech Surfboard Prize): Brody Buck (multiple barrels during session)