Phillip Island, VIC (Saturday 4 October, 2025): Queensland’s next generation of surfers shone brightly at the 2025 Rip Curl GromSearch Phillip Island presented by Bass Coast Shire, with standout performances from Mitchell Peterson (Noosa), Eliza Richardson (Gold Coast), and Navah Holmes (Gold Coast).
Warm weather and clean conditions at Smiths Beach set the stage for an epic Finals Day, and the Queensland competitors made their mark across multiple divisions.
In the Under 18 Boys Final, Mitchell Peterson delivered a composed and powerful performance to take the win, scoring a 7.57 and a 7.77 in the decider. Facing close friend Darcy Dwyer, Mitchell said, “It was pretty special surfing my last event with a mate. I’m stoked to get the win… I love coming down here to Phillip Island.”
Eliza Richardson continued Queensland’s strong showing, taking out the Under 16 Girls division with exceptional consistency throughout the event. Her smooth and confident surfing earned her top scores in the final and capped off a standout week.
Rounding out Queensland’s success, Navah Holmes impressed in the Under 14 Girls division, securing the win with a polished and fearless display in the tricky beach break conditions.
As the 2025 Rip Curl GromSearch wrapped up at Smiths Beach, Queensland’s young athletes once again proved their depth of talent and competitive edge on the national stage.
A replay of Finals Day can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yCenorsmTE
Results:
U18 Boys:
1st- Mitchell Peterson (Noosa, QLD), 15.34
2nd- Darcy Dwyer (Noosa, QLD), 14.83
U18 Girls:
1st- Ava Holland (Mornington Peninsula, VIC), 15.90
2nd- Sophie Wilkinson (Mornington Peninsula, VIC), 10.96
U16 Boys:
1st- Locana Cullen (Avalon Beach, NSW), 14.83
2nd- Rio Luther Barr (Bundagen, NSW), 10.90
U16 Girls:
1st- Eliza Richardson (Gold Coast, QLD), 17.00
2nd- Talia Tebb (Avoca Beach, NSW), 13.34
U14 Boys:
1st- Ffeon Clifford (Mount Maunanui NZ), 12.57
2nd- Lennox Lindsay (Northland, NZ), 9.73
U14 Girls:
1st- Navah Holmes (Gold Coast, QLD), 9.33
2nd- Rosie Annesley (Margaret River, WA), 4.26
