Quiksilver Is Bringing Back King Of The Groms, And Sending Four U18 Finalists To Hawaii To Compete For $10k

If you’re looking for an all-time Quiksilver King Of The Groms highlight, it’s hard to get past the 2009 edition when an unknown kid from Brazil went defcon on the final and dropped two tens. 

That kid happened to be Gabs Medina.

When Medina won, KOTG featured a trad contest format — see above about dropping tens. Eventually, though, something called social media came around. And, around 2015, the event shifted to a freesurf-based format that starts as a digital event and ends with an in-person final. It hasn’t glanced in the rearview since, though it did take a naming detour (Young Guns) and hit a few speed bumps caused by a microscopic viral strain. The last time the event ran was in late 2019.

But, as of today, it is officially back and it’s got a juicy prize: $10k and a ticket to compete in the Quiksilver Festival in September.

The details? But of course.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Quiksilver (@quiksilver)

Round 1

• Open to male and female surfers aged 18 and under, worldwide.
• Entrants must post a single-wave clip on Instagram before January 23, 2026.
• Tag @quiksilver, @stab, and #KOTG26.
• Previously posted clips are allowed in this round.

Selection

• Griffin Colapinto and Kauli Vaast (heard of them?) will review all entries and select a top eight.

Round 2

• Each surfer submits a second single wave to Stab and Quiksilver. This time, it must be filmed within the last year.
• Head-to-head matchups are posted on Instagram with a 24-hour poll.
• Audience vote decides who advances.

Round 3

• Each surfer submits a third single wave to Stab and Quiksilver. This time, it must be unseen/posted before.
• Head-to-head matchups are posted on Instagram with a 24-hour poll.
• Two winners advance to the Final.

Wildcard Picks

• Griffin Colapinto and Kauli Vaast select two additional surfers from the original top eight to complete the Final.

Final

• Four surfers spend one week at the Quiksilver House at Pipeline in February.
• Whoever shines the brightest there wins $10,000 and an invite to the 2026 Quiksilver Festival in September.

You born sometime after 2007? All you need is three clips to add five figs to your bank account and etch your name next to Medina’s. You’ve only got a month to post — and a month to try to film that third round banger if you’re not already sitting on gold. Get busy.

Otherwise, kick back and watch the throne.

We’ll keep you posted as the event evolves.

Peep the full rules here.