Australia’s best junior surfers are set to shine at the 2022 Billabong Occy’s Grom Comp presented by Kirra Surf, kicking off this weekend, Saturday 2 July which will run across four days at Duranbah (Dbah) Beach on the Gold Coast.
The prestigious event is touted as ‘the pillar of grom surfing competitions’ and one of the most highly anticipated events on the junior calendar.
The event will play host to an array of young up-and-coming male and female surfers from Under 12 to the Blue Ribbon Under 16 divisions.
1999 World Champion Mark “Occy” Occhilupo, who the event is named after, is stoked to see the Occy’s Grom Comp return after the event took a two year hiatus due to COVID-19.
“It’s incredible the event is already in its 17th year, it’s quite unbelievable actually,” said Occhilupo. “I’m proud of where the event is at today. The standard of surfing is so high and it’s a great honour to have groms from all over the world enter the event with such determination to win it. Dbah always seems to produce decent waves for the competitors so fingers crossed this year is no exception with four days of quality waves and even better surfing.”
Queensland’s Under 16 State Junior Champion, Rico Haybittle, said he’s fired up and ready to compete at the Billabong Occy’s Grom Comp presented by Kirra Surf.
“Winning the State Junior Champs a couple of weeks ago has definitely given me a confidence boost, so I’m feeling pretty confident in my surfing going into the event,” said Haybittle. “I’m looking forward to surf against some of the countries best surfers at Dbah. I’m also just excited to surf Dbah again in a heat. It’s always crowded when you’re free surfing so I’m excited to surf it with only a few other guys in the water.”
Surfing Queensland CEO Adam Yates is looking forward to hosting the prestigious competition and watching the next crop of soon-to-be-stars battle it out at Duranbah.
“The Occy’s Grom Comp is the pillar of grom surfing competitions and plays the role as a pathway event for Australia’s best junior surfers, so it’s great to have it back in 2022,” said Yates. “Previous event winners include professional surfing icons such as, Tyler Wright, Jack Freestone, Sally Fitzgibbon, Ryan Callinan, Macy Callaghan and Isabella Nichols. Each year the calibre of young surfers is taken to new heights and it’s exciting to see the next generation of surfers come up through the ranks.”
The Billabong Occy’s Grom Comp heat draw and schedule will be published on Live Heats, Thursday 30 June.
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The 2022 Billabong Occy’s Grom Comp presented by Kirra Surf is proudly supported by Surfing Queensland, Kustom, JS Industries, Oakberry, Stryker Media, Nixon, Mrs Palmers and Blue Dinosaur.
