Hawaii’s amateur keiki surfers to compete virtually for the first time ever in popular grom comp with proceeds to benefit local nonprofit. Competitor registration begins on May 6 at events.tcsurf.com
HONOLULU (May 5, 2021) –The T&C Grom Contest presented by FreeSurf Magazine will transform into a virtual competition in Waikiki. Entering our 23rd year, we are taking this historic event online for the first time as a digital submission-based-competition. The event will run for eight weeks entirely online at events.tcsurf.com. Participants will be able to assemble from all sides of the island chain to prove their talent in shortboard, longboard, or bodyboard divisions at the iconic Queen’s surf break. To help to keep the stoke level high we have secured over $20,000 in prizes from many of the surf and skate brands that we carry within our stores.
The virtual contest will be limited to the first 250 entrants. There will be a $10 entry fee which will be donated in full to the https://www.bgch.com/Boys and Girls Club of Hawaii, who’s partnership has always been aligned with T&C Surf’s mission – to create greater futures for our youth. All contestants will receive a goodie bag with cool swag from the event sponsors including Dakine, RVCA, Vans, Vertra and many more. Each competitor is limited to one division and one individual wave submission. Different from traditional surf contest formats, this year’s Grom Contest will assess the entrants’ ability to demonstrate talent, skill, and determination without the time limitations of a traditional series of competition heats. Official submissions will start on June 7th and end on July 31st. The groms will have the summer to film themselves surfing a perfect wave and submit the video clip online for the judge’s consideration. T&C Surf will reveal the top three winners of each division online on August 20, 2021 to be awarded with medals and prize packs.
It was most unfortunate news for many, when we could not host the event last year because of our deep concern for the coronavirus outbreak and the safety and health of the groms, attendees and staff. We did not want to see another year go by without the kids having a surf contest to look forward to and decided to explore our options which resulted in an online virtual experience. “We will miss the laughter and smiles on the beach and watching families create lasting memories and make new friends, but we are happy to keep the stoke of surfing strong until we can welcome everyone back to Queen’s in person” proclaimed owner and founder of T&C Surf, Craig Sugihara. Similar thoughts were echoed by Mike Latronic, publisher of FreeSurf Magazine “Partnering up with T&C for the Gromfest is always a great venture. These kids are the future of surfing and it now makes it “more modern” than ever to interact with the youth in the very modern digital realm. Can’t wait to see the new format unfold and be a part of it!”
This contest is different from most keiki events because it prohibits contestants who have previously entered ranked competitive surf organizations such as NSSA or HASA, and in turn creates a more relaxed environment for those new to surf competition. Kids ages six to twelve-year-old are welcome to enter one single division of their choice. We regret that with this year’s online format, we will not be able to include our ever popular Kokua Push-In division or Tandem Expression Session.
Registration is available online at events.tcsurf.com. Visit the website to learn more about competition dates, format, rules, regulations, and more. The public can also email enquiries@gmail.com for more information.
A special mahalo to our event supporters: FreeSurf Magazine, Boys & Girls Club of Hawaii, Dakine, RVCA, Vans and Vertra.
About T&C Surf
T&C Surf was founded in 1971 by local surfboard shaper, Craig Sugihara. T&C Surf has evolved from a small Hawaii surfboard manufacturer into a multifaceted international leader in the surf industry. The operation today includes the following divisions: Surfboard Manufacturing, Retail and International Licensing. The surfboard division operates from a state-of-the art shaping facility in Wahiawa. It provides our highly skilled board shapers with the best tools for designing and producing some of the world’s most sought-after boards. T&C Surf operates six stores on the island of Oahu, solidifying our position as a market leader. Our retail locations will now include: Ala Moana Center, Pearlridge Center, Kahala Mall, Ka Makana Ali’i, Haleiwa Store Lots, and Windward Mall. The licensing division has agreements around the world, including Australia, Brazil, Japan, France, Indonesia, New Zealand, Portugal, and Spain. Visit us online at TCSurf.com.