Stab Magazine | See the future of surfing here (the Quiksilver King Of The Groms final!)

Live Now — The 2024 Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational

67 Views

See the future of surfing here (the Quiksilver King Of The Groms final!)

Quiksilver’s King Of The Groms truly is the realest under-18 surf event in the world. As you no doubt saw on Stabmag.com, after 1000 scary-good clips streamed through the contest’s round one hashtags, and over 50,000 people voted for contestants in round two, Quiksilver scooped the creme off the top and landed on a beach in Brazil with 10 young surfers. Though, it didn’t take the full three days for the judges to realise that these really were the 10 best under-18 surfers in the world. It didn’t even take three hours. It took all of 30 minutes. Then, a long weekend of junior surfing at the highest level of performance ensued. With Jesse Mendes as tour guide and Matt Hoy as spiritual guide, the groms ran rampant around the island of Fernando de Noronha in customised dune buggies, feasting on Brazilian BBQ, guzzling soda and doing the best surfing that anyone of their age group has ever done. Perfect three-to-four foot sand-bottom wedges and an A-frame reefbreak were furiously lit up by the 10-pack, and it was clear from the start that choosing a winner would be no breeze. But a King had to be crowned, and when the smoke on the water had cleared, there was an undeniable number one: Sebastian Williams. A half-Mexican, half-South African miracle completely deserving of the $20,000 winner’s cheque and of the cliched sentiment that he surfs well beyond his years. Airs, rail work, combinations – it’s all there. All hail the 2015 King Of The Groms! In second place, Samuel Pupo came in hot with bleached hair and a fiery frontside swing to claim the $10,000 runner up prize. Like Sebastian, Sammy proves that surfing’s future lies in being an everything-specialist. Thanks to Drink Up and Sony Xperia, there was still some gifts left in the purse. Sammy Pupo scored another $1,000 for his air game. Kian Martin plucked the $1,000 rail game cash. No one could match Sandon Whittaker in combo land, and he scooped $1,000 for his work. And it was Malakai Martinez who owned the Expression Session for another $1,000. Keeping with tradition, the 2015 King Of The Groms was unlike any other junior surfing event in the world. And, it produced a crop of new stars to watch. 1st – $20,000: Sebastian Williams2nd – $10,000:  Samuel PupoAirgame – $1000: Samuel PupoRailGame – $1000: Kian MartinCombo – $1000: Sandon WhitakerExpression Session – $1000: Malakai Martinez Photo: Ricardo Bravo

cinema // Mar 8, 2016
Words by stab
Reading Time: 2 minutes

Quiksilver’s King Of The Groms truly is the realest under-18 surf event in the world. As you no doubt saw on Stabmag.com, after 1000 scary-good clips streamed through the contest’s round one hashtags, and over 50,000 people voted for contestants in round two, Quiksilver scooped the creme off the top and landed on a beach in Brazil with 10 young surfers. Though, it didn’t take the full three days for the judges to realise that these really were the 10 best under-18 surfers in the world. It didn’t even take three hours. It took all of 30 minutes.

Then, a long weekend of junior surfing at the highest level of performance ensued. With Jesse Mendes as tour guide and Matt Hoy as spiritual guide, the groms ran rampant around the island of Fernando de Noronha in customised dune buggies, feasting on Brazilian BBQ, guzzling soda and doing the best surfing that anyone of their age group has ever done.

Perfect three-to-four foot sand-bottom wedges and an A-frame reefbreak were furiously lit up by the 10-pack, and it was clear from the start that choosing a winner would be no breeze. But a King had to be crowned, and when the smoke on the water had cleared, there was an undeniable number one:

Sebastian Williams. A half-Mexican, half-South African miracle completely deserving of the $20,000 winner’s cheque and of the cliched sentiment that he surfs well beyond his years. Airs, rail work, combinations – it’s all there. All hail the 2015 King Of The Groms!

In second place, Samuel Pupo came in hot with bleached hair and a fiery frontside swing to claim the $10,000 runner up prize. Like Sebastian, Sammy proves that surfing’s future lies in being an everything-specialist.

Thanks to Drink Up and Sony Xperia, there was still some gifts left in the purse. Sammy Pupo scored another $1,000 for his air game. Kian Martin plucked the $1,000 rail game cash. No one could match Sandon Whittaker in combo land, and he scooped $1,000 for his work. And it was Malakai Martinez who owned the Expression Session for another $1,000.

Keeping with tradition, the 2015 King Of The Groms was unlike any other junior surfing event in the world. And, it produced a crop of new stars to watch.

1st – $20,000: Sebastian Williams
2nd – $10,000:  Samuel Pupo
Airgame – $1000: Samuel Pupo
RailGame – $1000: Kian Martin
Combo – $1000: Sandon Whitaker
Expression Session – $1000: Malakai Martinez

15_KOTG_Top10_RicardoBravo-0601-3

Photo: Ricardo Bravo

Comments

Comments are a Stab Premium feature. Gotta join to talk shop.

Already a member? Sign In

Want to join? Sign Up

Advertisement

Most Recent

Stab Surfer of the Year 2024: Jack Robinson, Creed McTaggart, Tatiana Weston-Webb, William Aliotti, and Nathan Fletcher

Day 6 of 10: As we inch closer, consistency reigns.

Dec 26, 2024

Watch: Just Rasta Surfing (A Christmas Treat!)

Pour some Prosecco and feast your eyes on his flax-sleigh, EAST adjacent freesurf edit. 

Dec 25, 2024

Stab Surfer of the Year 2024: Caroline Marks, Noah Beschen, Balaram Stack, Milla Coco Brown, and Shane Dorian

Day 5 of 10: It's beginning to look a lot like victory.

Dec 24, 2024

Stab Surfer of the Year 2024: Italo Ferreira, Eithan Osborne, Moana Jones Wong, Parker Coffin, and Matt Myers

Day 4 of 10: Keep it friendly, but keep it fair.

Dec 23, 2024

“The Greatest Sporting Event On Earth” — A Report From Rarified Sand

Shorebreak mania and 60-foot cleanup sets from the Eddie that almost didn't go.

Dec 23, 2024

Landon McNamara Is Your 2024 Rip Curl Eddie Aikau Champ

“The entire ocean landed on his shoulders, and he still came out successful”

Dec 23, 2024

Stab Surfer of the Year 2024: Erin Brooks, Crosby Colapinto, Mateus Herdy, Jaleesa Vincent, and Doug Silva

Day 3 of 10: No surprises yet, but will it last?

Dec 23, 2024

Watch Live: The 2024 Rip Curl Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational

The biggest surf event in the world is on.

Dec 22, 2024

Stab Surfer of the Year 2024: Mason Ho, Bettylou Sakura Johnson, Mark Occhilupo, Matt Meola, and Matt Biolos

Day 2 of 10: Yellow jerseys gonna yellow jersey.

Dec 22, 2024

Stab Surfer of the Year 2024: Caity Simmers, Clay Marzo, Griffin Colapinto, Ross Williams, and Sierra Kerr

Day 1 of 10: This is the closest you’ll get to an Advent calendar from…

Dec 21, 2024

Rip Curl Eddie Aikau Contest Director Says “Event Has 90% Chance Of Running This Sunday”

"I'd say the forecast looks promising" - John Florence.

Dec 20, 2024

Ferrari Boyz: Shane Borland

A Lamborghini Huracán — on a surfer/skateboarder's salary?

Dec 20, 2024

What To Expect On Stab Highway East Coast (USA), presented by Monster Energy

Nine states, stripper weddings, waxed windows and a whole lot of surfing.

Dec 19, 2024

Are We About To Lose Keramas For Good?

"If this marina gets built, mark my words: Keramas will be gone."

Dec 19, 2024

Erin Brooks + Nathan Florence Are Your 2024 Vans Pipeline Masters

"Somebody get that girl a bag of cash!"

Dec 19, 2024

2024 Vans Pipe Masters Day Four — Live Updates, Commentary, And Conjectures

Third reef sets, massive first reef double ups, and some Finals to run.

Dec 18, 2024

Sunshine Coast QS Competitor And Surf Coach Under Investigation For Child Sexual Assault

Connor Lyons faces 12 charges of indecent treatment of children and three charges of wilful…

Dec 18, 2024

Harrison Roach Talks Equipment, Travel, And Entering The Fantasy Realm

"Surfing makes me feel like a child. That's why I keep doing it."

Dec 18, 2024
Advertisement