Meet the world’s best groms! Here’s: Tane Bowden

Interview by Matt Hoy | All photos by Ricardo Bravo Right now, the world’s 10 best under 18 surfers are in Brazil’s Fernando de Noronha, for the final of Quiksilver’s 2015 King Of The Groms. While they’re there, we’ll be profiling the kids who are keeping the future of surfing bright – as interview by the vibrant Matt Hoy. Today, let’s meet… Tane Bowden! I’m Tane Bowden, I’m 14, and I’m from New Zealand – the North Island. I live in Victoria, Australia now. Favourite wave is probably Top Shelf, Sparrows. My magic board dimensions are probably 5’9”x 18’1/4”x 2’1/8”, I think? What I most like about Brazil is the big booties (and not the wetsuit kind). Or, the weather. My biggest rival in King Of The Groms is everybody! We’re all here to win $20 grand. It’s way better than a normal junior event. Sebastian, Samuel, Kael, everyone could win it. I think Mick will win the World Title this year. The best surfer in the world right now is John John. Everyone is gonna say that, right? If you gave me a million dollars today, I’d travel the world with it. Three things I’d take to a deserted island are food, water and my phone (laughs). The best thing about King Of The Groms is being able to travel to the other side of the world for free, meet new people, surf good waves, and I don’t have to do any school. In 10 years from now, I’ll hopefully be on tour, getting money for what I love, which is surfing. I’m most scared of spiders! Yeah, spiders. Or, what are those little things that get into you? Parasites. The biggest influences in the water at my local break are probably Troy Brooks, my brother Mackenzie, Cody Robertson, Adam Robertson… Who has the most influence on my surfing? John John. After watching the movie, it was just like, I want to do that.