Kade Matson

The 2017 International Rip Curl #GromSearch Final | A Week of Waves in Maresias

Eight countries. 16 groms. A week of waves and a huge crop of talent. That’s what the 2017 International Rip Curl GromSearch Final presented by Coconuts Hotel was all about.

It began Sunday night. Flights started to trickle in from all over the globe – from Indonesia, Dubai, France, Spain, Sydney, Auckland, Los Angeles – you name the airport, a grom flew through it. And they descended on Sao Paulo airport having no idea what to expect – not one surfer had been to South America before, let alone Brazil, let alone Maresias.

And Maresias, home to both 2014 World Champion Gabriel Medina and the Pupo family, was exactly where they were headed.

When you drive in to Maresias, you drive through what is essentially the jungle. Up mountains, through dense forest, around winding roads – a stark contrast to the chaos and vast population of Sao Paulo. And then, once you pass the small sign to the left of the road that reads “Rio Maresias”, you see what you travelled all this way for – a long, isolated stretch of beach bordered by mountains on either side, with what looks like a wave every few metres along the coastline.

This place, contrary to common perception about Brazil, offers up a huge number of waves with both variety and punch. You want a barrel? You can find it in Maresias. You want an air section? No problem.

The contest bank for the International Final is about two-thirds of the way up the coast from the southern entrance to Maresias, and is one of the bigger banks in the area. It picks up a fair bit of swell, and is where most of the heavier hitting surfers frequent when a storm rolls through.

During the event waiting period, the groms couldn’t have gotten luckier. The two days that the event was run, done and won, there was solid three-to-five foot swell rolling through, with clean, slightly offshore winds to keep things tidy. And with the crop of talent competing, scores were pushed into the excellent range on a number of occasions.

In the end it was 14-year-old Kade Matson (USA) who took out the men’s division – a new record for age in the men’s division – and CT hopeful Caroline Marks (USA) who dominated in the women’s.

After the event concluded Gabriel Medina, a former winner of the GromSearch International Final, was there to pass out the awards and congratulate each and every grom on getting to where they are today.

“The International GromSearch Final is a big deal,” he said to the groms, on stage. “I won it, and a lot of other competitors on the CT have competed in it. Most of them, actually. So just know that you’re the next generation of surfers headed towards the World Tour.”

The groms took Gabriel’s speech to heart, and after a Brazilian BBQ party feast, they had a solid night of sleep and didn’t waste any time in finding waves over the remaining days of the waiting period.

From searching in Maresias by van, to chartering a boat and heading out to a secluded jungle wedge, the groms spent just about every waking minute on the hunt for waves. And, as always, they have one helluva time doing it.

Congratulations to each and every surfer in the 2017 International Rip Curl GromSearch Final. You nailed it, groms!

And a special obrigado to our local hosts in Maresias, including Gabriel Medina and Samuel Pupo.

Until next year…

Kade Matson and Caroline Marks Win The 2017 International Rip Curl #GromSearch Final

The United States has come out on top at the 2017 International Rip Curl #GromSearch Final presented by Coconuts Hotel, with two San Clemente locals taking the top prizes.

For the men it was Kade Matson, the youngest surfer in the draw at only 14 years old. And on the women's side, Caroline Marks reigned supreme, not only coming out on top in the final heat, but also posting the two highest heat scores of the entire event.

Have you ever tried to corral six fourteen year old’s halfway across the world? Through flights, check-ins, security lines, McDonald’s lines, and more security lines? As you could imagine, it’s no easy task.

But it’s a task that we have taken on ever since the inception of Grom Games, a yearly trip that puts on display the most talented youth from all corners of the globe. This year’s mission included Noah Hill, Kade Matson, Caroline Marks, Eduardo Motta, Alan Cleland and Tommy Coleman all making the pilgrimage to beautiful Bali.

The events that followed are what you see above. So watch it all, from the first session to the last, and every milkshake in between.

GoPro Surf: Grom Games - Ep. 1

In the first episode of Grom Games, the versatile surfing of Eduardo Motta and Kade Matson is on full display.

Join six of the best 14-year-old surfers in the world on an epic trip to Bali. Getting barreled, punting airs, exploring the Uluwatu caves, hucking themselves over the falls in 6-foot shorebreak...the Groms captured it all.

At the end of the trip, they each made an edit with their footage and submitted it to GoPro's Anthony Walsh and the SURFING staff for review. The winner got valuable Grom Games points and arguably even more valuable USD ($1,000!).

2016 Rip Curl GromSearch National Final presented by Banzai Bowls - Seaside Reef, CA

After months of qualifying events spanning from California, to Hawaii, Florida, North Carolina and now back to California, the 2016 Rip Curl GromSearch presented by Banzai Bowls has officially wrapped up its season. With 64 hungry qualifiers with one goal in common, the action was through the roof at Seaside Reef over the weekend. A mixed bag of 2-3 foot surf was on offer as new moon tides showed many faces of conditions for the Nation’s top talent. In the end four National Champions were crowned, as they were awarded with $500, massive prize bags, bragging rights for a year, and the lucky 16/U division winners earned the all expense paid invitation to compete in the RCGS International Final, set to be held ‘somewhere on The Search’ in the Spring of 2017.

Congratulations to National Champions; Kade Matson, Caroline Marks, Malakai Martinez, and Jackson Bunch!