Jackson said he and Broudy wanted to put an East Coast tour together to provide an opportunity for young surfers to be recognized, to win trophies and prizes and even hard cash. “We invite everybody to come out, even if you’re just curious about competitive surfing and you want to see what it’s all about,” he added. “Yes, it’s a contest, but it’s also an event to help expose more people to the sport.” “That’s a great opportunity for the parents to have bonding time in the water with their kids,” said Jackson. Parents may also participate with the younger kids by helping to assist and push in their boards. Groms will compete in the following categories: boys and girls 10 and under girls 17 and under boys 14-17 open shortboard, ages 17 and under boys and girls boys 11-13 girls open longboard 17 and under and boys open longboard, ages 17 and under. “We will be running (competitions on) two beaches at the same time with two sets of judges.”
“We don’t ever want to turn anyone away for this type of event,” he said.
#Surf lingo grom registration#
However, before registration closes, there could be twice that number. According to Hennessey, he expects at least 50 competitors. “We’re stoked to be in New Jersey and we hope people are stoked that we’re here,” Jackson said. Braedon Kopek, a surfer from Flagler Beach, Fla., shreds at a recent O’Neill Grom Tour stop. Ocean City was to be the sixth stop on the tour, but a date change of a scheduled Carolina Beach, N.C., event to later in June moved Ocean City up to fifth stop on the schedule. The tour opened in January in Melbourne Beach, Fla., and then made stops in Jacksonville and in Garden City Beach, S.C.
“We started in Florida and worked our way up the coast,” said Phil Jackson, of Myrtle Beach, S.C., who, with Seth Broudy of Virginia Beach, Va., co-directs the tour, which is now in its third year. In fact, the O’Neill Grom Tour has never before been held in New Jersey. There has been a steady flow of registrants for Sunday’s contest, the first ever hosted by Ocean City, Hennessey said. Hennessey also expects groms from a wide geographic area to descend on 7th Street, the first beach in Ocean City designated for surfing. “Here in Ocean City and (other local beach towns) we have quite a large group of good young talent. “This event helps promote and grow the sport by introducing the youngest of ages to both competitive and recreational surfing,” said Heritage Surf and Sport’s Jim Hennessey. Originally known as grommets and sometimes called gremmies, the term now is used for youngsters participating in any extreme sport. The term “grom” is surfing lingo for a young participant up to about age 17. The future of surfing will be on display this weekend when the O’Neill East Coast Grom Tour rolls into Ocean City this Saturday and Sunday, June 1 and 2, at the famed 7th Street Beach. Organizer Phil Jackson, left, with participants at a recent O’Neill Grom Tour stop.
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