The Rip Curl Grom Search is the place to scout out surfing’s newest talent. 50% of Grom Search title holders have gone on the World Tour so the competition is pretty steep. Competition begins this month in Santa Marinella Italy and will tour through France, the UK, Portugal, Spain and the Netherlands before closing out the season with a European wide final tournament. The best of the best will then go on to compete against South Americans, Australians, Americans and all the world’s best surfers under 16.
The UK leg of the tour will take place in three locations: Devon, Porthcawl and Watergate Bay. Here’s a quick overview of what each destination has to offer:
Devon
North Devon, specifically Croyde, is the most popular beach among locals. People visit from as far as London to get a taste of the region’s fabled low tide barrels. The large beach offers plenty of space for beginners and seasoned veterans alike. Visit on the third weekend of June and enjoy the spectacle as the UK’s best young talent turns up to show off their skills. Other than surfing, this charming seaside town offers incredible beaches for swimming and sunbathing as well as incredible natural surroundings that make for some spectacular hikes. it should also be noted that the village of Croyde is dotted with cheap and charming rental cottages - a perfect accommodation option for surfers.
Porthcawl
Porthcawl is so charming that the Guardian recently suggested that we should all move there!
Welsh surfing might not seem like the most obvious combination but the Welsh coast is home to some of the UK’s most incredible waves. Porthcawl especially is so charming that the Guardian recently suggested that we should all move there! Visit on the weekend of the 11th and 12th of July to take advantage of all the hubbub and see the best young groms that Wales has to offer. A perfect scenic jumping off point for exploring the rest of Wales, smack in middle of Swansea and Cardiff, Take a break from big cities and see what Welsh surfing has to offer. There are plenty of B&Bs and camping grounds in the area, so if you happen to be in town for this leg of the Grom Search Tour, there are bound to be great accommodation options close to the shore.
Watergate Bay
Watergate Bay will not only host the UK’s final leg of the Rip Curl Grom Search this summer but also the Boardmasters surf festival. The city will come alive for the first two weeks of August as the groms descend: August 5th to 13th is sure to be a busy time but athletic competitions make it totally worthwhile. Jamie Oliver’s Cornwall location of his restaurant, Fifteen is on the beaches of Watergate Bay and the surrounding area is just as cool. Watergate Bay also has plenty of all ages entertainment with the area known for its extreme sports, zoos and aquariums.
Dates of UK leg of the Rip Curl Grom Search
Croyde: 20th & 21st of June
Porthcawl: 11th & 12th of July
Watergate Bay: 15th & 16th of August
Travel Information
Accommodation:
Croyde: Visit Holidays in Croyde and Croyde’s tourism website to find a good selection of holiday cottages
Porthcawl: Their official tourism website has a list of different of accommodation options from holiday camps to B&Bs
Watergate Bay: Located next to the beach, Watergate Bay Hotel is great and also offers surfing courses.
Transport:
Check out GoEuro’s journey planner to help find the best travel route to these UK surf destinations
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