About:

The 2023 Woolworths Surfer Groms Comps National Series is set to kick off this weekend in Kiama on the NSW South Coast.

Event guide:

Widely regarded as a significant stepping stone in the development of young Australian surfers, the Woolworths Surfer Groms Comps cater for surfers aged from Under 8 to Under 14. This national series consists of ten events that will hit the shores of every State culminating in the highly anticipated National Final, which will be held at the Hyundai Surfing Australia High Performance Centre in December.

Event organisers expect about 90 competitors to participate in each stop of the series with about 60 competitors in South Australia and Tasmania.

Surfing Australia CEO, Chris Mater said there was a real emphasis on having fun and participating.

“The Woolworths Surfer Groms series serves as a pivotal pathway for the next generation of aspiring professional surfers, providing them with a fun and friendly introduction to competitive surfing. While some kids will be competing for the very first time others are well on their way to making their surfing dreams come true.

“The Woolworths Surfer Groms series has helped to launch the careers of many of Australia’s most promising junior surfers with each event fiercely contested and winners securing valuable National Junior Rankings points.”

Woolworths Head of Community and Sponsorships, Sarah De La Mare said: “As today’s Fresh Food People, we’re committed to improving the health and wellbeing of Australian kids.

“While this series helps to develop groms in a fun and competitive surfing environment, it also educates kids and families about natural connections between healthy eating habits through Australian sport, to help them play their best and follow their heroes’ footsteps – if you pick fresh, you play fresh.

“We look forward to another exciting year of Australian junior surfing and supporting the Woolworths Surfer Groms Comps kicking off this week.”

As an added bonus, the respective winners of the Under 14 Boys and Girls divisions from each event will receive an invite to attend an all expenses paid, three-day camp at the Hyundai Surfing Australia High Performance Centre, which includes an elite coaching program with Surfing Australia’s professional surf coaches.

For the South Australian, Victorian and Tasmanian events, the Woolworths Surf Camp prize will be awarded to the highest placed Under-14 Boy and Girl who reside in that respective State.