T&C SURF GROMFEST Gremmies revved up to shine in Hawaii

Join T&C Surf at the “10th Annual Grom Contest” presented by 3Dimensional on June 16 & 17 at Queen’s surf break in Waikiki for a weekend of competition and fun for the whole family.

The contest is a hot spot for showing off future stars and innovators of the surfing world. It’s a stepping stone for many local youth looking to test the waters of a competitive surfing career. Up-and-coming surfers such as Coco Ho, Kekoa Cazimero, Ezekiel Lau and Lani Hunter honed their skills at past T&C Surf grom events.

This year’s format gives surfers age 14 and younger the chance to have one of the South shores’ premier surf breaks all to themselves. Competitors take to the waves in the shadow of legendary Duke Kahanamoku statue at Queen’s surf break at Kuhio Beach. In keeping with Duke’s spirit of aloha, the event’s focus is friendly competition and enjoying a day at the beach. Keiki compete as a longboarder, shortboarder or bodyboarder in three age divisions by gender: 7 years old and younger, 8-11 years old, 12-14 years old.

Also on the agenda are plans to bring in ten of the top ranked local groms for Surfer magazine’s “Hot 100 Air Invitational” on Saturday, June 16. Cash prizes will go to the top four overall ($1000 1st / $500 2nd / $300 3rd / $200 4th ).

“The ‘Air Invitational’ is something that all the local surfers in Hawaii look forward to every year,” says Rick Irons, publisher of Surfer magazine. “It’s a chance to see something new, and you never know what some young kid will pull off to take the title. That’s why Surfer magazine supports this event. It pushes the envelope and lets the surfing world see how far ahead the young Hawaii surfers really are.”

The Board Stories “Expression Session” on Sunday features a special limited-entry tandem parent/keiki division - a perfect way to spend Father’s Day (open to all adults and children under age 10).