The 2025 Billabong Grom Series presented by Oceanbridge wrapped up on 22nd February, with New Zealand’s top young surfers battling challenging West Coast conditions at Piha.
Raglan surfers delivered standout performances, with Maya Mateja and Alani Morse securing three-peat victories in the Under-18 and Under-16 Girls divisions, respectively. Luca Thompson also impressed, taking back-to-back wins in the Under-16 Boys. Dunedin’s Alexis Owen claimed the Under-18 Boys title, while Jaxon Pardoe (Gisborne) and Jade Nias Phillips (Ahipara) topped the Under-14 divisions.
Piha’s powerful 2.0m swell provided a testing ground for competitors. Mateja dominated the Under-18 Girls final, leaving her opponents scrambling, while Morse attacked the Piha closeouts to secure her win.
In the Under-16 Boys final, Thompson’s 12.97 heat total proved unbeatable. “I felt like I could really show what I could do out there,” he said. Owen took out the Under-18 Boys in a high-scoring showdown against Australia’s Macka Hazard.
