New Zealand’s top junior surfers faced tough conditions at Whangamata over the weekend for the second stop of the Billabong Grom Series, presented by Oceanbridge.
With the expected swell failing to appear, competitors made the most of the small 0.5m waves, battling hard in challenging surf.
Mount Maunganui’s Tao Mouldey claimed his second win of the season, narrowly defeating Australia-based Macka Hazard in a thrilling Under-18 Boys final. Meanwhile, Raglan’s Maya Mateja secured back-to-back victories in the Under-18 Girls Division, demonstrating her skill despite the difficult conditions.
Point Boardriders Dominate Club Standings
Raglan’s Point Boardriders claimed top club honors at the event, driven by standout performances from Maya Mateja, Alani Morse (Under-16 Girls), Luca Thompson (Under-16 Boys), and Jimmy Wernham (Under-14 Boys).
Mouldey Clinches Victory in Thrilling Under-18 Boys Final
The Under-18 Boys final saw a tense showdown, with Tao Mouldey needing a big score to surpass Macka Hazard, who had been in control with his powerful backhand. Mouldey delivered a crucial 7.07-point ride, bringing his total to 12.90—equal to Hazard’s—but secured the win on a tiebreak. Hazard settled for second, marking his best result of the season, while Tava Santorik (Mount Maunganui) finished third and Piha’s Sev Tolhurst took fourth.
Mateja Prevails in Tight Under-18 Girls Battle
The Under-18 Girls final came down to a dramatic split peak between Maya Mateja and Sage Fritchley (Mount Maunganui). Both delivered smooth backhand rides in the closing moments, with Mateja scoring 8.83 to Fritchley’s 8.17. Mateja’s final total of 15.86 secured the win over Fritchley’s 13.74. Chloe Groube (Pauanui) made a strong return to the podium in third, while Poppy Entwisle (Taranaki) earned her third consecutive finals appearance, finishing fourth.
Raglan Surfers Dominate Under-16 Divisions
The Under-16 Boys final featured an all-Raglan battle, with Luca Thompson narrowly defeating Indica Corcoran in a close exchange. Thompson’s 7.40-point ride secured the win over Corcoran’s 7.0, while Piha’s Zeke Pragert claimed third, and first-time finalist Ollie Tong (Gisborne) finished fourth.
In the Under-16 Girls Division, Alani Morse (Raglan) extended her winning streak after her victory at Mount Maunganui, claiming first place ahead of Indi-Lee Ruddell (Whangārei). Piha’s Poppy Arkle and Kyra Wallis completed the podium in third and fourth, respectively
Wernham and Phillips Secure Under-14 Titles
Raglan’s Jimmy Wernham delivered an impressive national-level debut, dominating the Under-14 Boys division to claim victory. In the Under-14 Girls final, Ahipara’s Jade Nias Phillips sealed the win in the last event of the day.
Looking Ahead
Full results from the Whangamata event (February 8-9) are available at www.Liveheats.com/SurfingNewZealand.
The 2025 Billabong Grom Series continues its tradition of developing New Zealand’s future surf stars, with past competitors including Richard Christie (Gisborne), Paige Hareb (Taranaki), Billy Stairmand (Raglan), Kehu Butler (Mount Maunganui), and Ella Williams (Whangamata).
Copy supplied
