Wave pools are undoubtedly shifting the surf paradigm. Progression is already increasing exponentially. The kids will be doing things we can only imagine in a decade or so, and wave pools will have had a big hand in that. Which is why it makes perfect sense that the Rip Curl GromSearch was held at the newly opened Atlantic Park Surf in Virginia Beach.
On October 5, Huntington Beach, California’s Finn Castle and Canada’s Ocea Green claimed victory in the U16 division at the Rip Curl North America GromSearch National Final. Their wins earned them both an all-expenses-paid trip to Hossegor, France, where they’ll compete against the world’s best groms for the International GromSearch Title. Castle also won the Boys U16, Boys U14, and the Banzai Bowls Best Air award.
“It’s incredible,” said PJ Connell, Vice President of Marketing & E-Commerce at Rip Curl North America. “We had events across North America, and now they’ve all come here to the pool. It’s like a stadium for surfing — every kid gets an equal opportunity to express themselves, it’s really fun to watch.”
Connell is well aware of how wave pools offer the perfect training grounds for progression. “The ocean has a lot of barriers to entry — the conditions, the temperature, the size of the waves,” he said. “With a controlled environment like this, you can shape the waves and help grow the sport and the community.”
Wave pools like the one at Atlantic Park are becoming more common, but they’re not yet so common that every competitor in the event had the chance to surf in one before the event.
“This wave pool is so sick,” said California’s Zoë Panettiere. “I’m just trying to enjoy every moment and have fun doing what I’m capable of.”
The event was a real boon for Atlantic Park Surf. Just a few months in, North America’s first Wavegarden pool has proven that it’s a valuable asset to the East Coast surfing community.
“The community is already embedded in surf culture,” said Nate Stevens, General Manager at the Park. “And now that we have guaranteed perfect waves all day, every day, it’s massive — the community is so excited. We’re getting visitors from all over — the East Coast, the Midwest, even the West Coast. People are booking trips to experience the first Wavegarden Cove Surf Lagoon in North America.”
Final Results
Boys U16
1st – Finn Castle – 18.43
2nd – Tanner Sandvig – 14.97
3rd – Merrik Mochkatel – 14.67
4th – Makai Castle – 11.60
Boys U14
1st – Finn Castle – 17.23
2nd – Hayden Flores – 17.10
3rd – Giacomo Mesinas – 15.50
4th – Wyatt Yount – 12.37
Girls U16
1st – Ocea Green – 14.50
2nd – Alana Lopez – 12.07
3rd – Marlo Harris – 11.73
4th – Kaydn Persidok – 9.94
Girls U14
1st – Teagan Meza – 16.26
2nd – Auburn Hilley – 16.17
3rd – Estorya Martinez – 13.40
4th – Amari Moore – 11.70
Specialty Awards:
Channel Islands High Heat Total: Giacomo Mesinas – 18.73 (Custom Surfboard)
Banzai Bowls Best Air: Finn Castle ($300 + Banzai Bowls Trophy)
Murf eBikes U16 Champion Award: Finn Castle & Ocea Green (eBikes for both 1st Place U16 Winners)
