Rip Curl Grom Search Brings National Competition to the Ocean City

The roar of the ocean is being joined by the stoke of a new generation of surfers this weekend, as the Rip Curl Grom Search makes its way to Ocean City, New Jersey. A nationally recognized series for young surfers, or “groms” as they’re known in the surfing world, is back on the Jersey Shore for the first time in a decade.

This weekend’s event at 7th Street in Ocean City is all about discovering new talent. The Rip Curl Grom Search has become a pivotal stepping stone for aspiring professionals, with many alumni having gone on to become household names in the surfing world.

The event’s director, Darren Brilhart, expressed his excitement about the return to New Jersey and Ocean City. “We are excited to be here in Ocean City this weekend, putting on this event in conjunction with Heritage Surf Shop. We’re in our 26th year of running the Rip Curl Grom Search, and recently, the East Coast Qualifier has been in Florida. It’s nice to change it up and offer a qualifier a little closer to home for all the surfers that live in New Jersey, Outer Banks, or New York.”

Rip Curl Grom Search is more than just a contest; it’s a convergence of surfing talent from across the globe, all vying for a spot in the national championships at the Atlantic Surf Park in Virginia Beach on October 4th. As Ocean City surfing icon and New Jersey Surfing Hall of Fame member, Matt Keenan, puts it, “Rip Curl Grom Search, it’s here nationally run series, and this is only stop in the Northeast. Surfers come from all over the continental US, California, Texas, Florida, and as far away as Puerto Rico and Barbados.” Keenan highlighted the local talent competing in the event, rattling off a list of names that included Finn Law, Tristan Edginton, Olivia Roberts, and Marin Wildman, to name a few. “There are so many crew from Ocean City, it’s awesome,” he said.

Hosting the Rip Curl Grom Search solidified Ocean City’s place as a cornerstone of the East Coast surfing scene. This weekend’s event is a celebration of surf culture and a unique opportunity to witness the next generation of surfing legends in action.