Local surf stars to lead the charge against top juniors at Oz Grom Open

FAR North Coast surfers Leihani Zoric and Ashton Crowley will be among the best junior talent in the country when they compete at the Soundboks Oz Grom Open at Lennox Head.

About 200 junior surfers from across Australia are expected to turn out for the event from 7–12 July.

The competition comes after Crowley and Zoric were officially named in the Australian Junior Irukandjis squad.

They will form part of a 12-member national team set to represent Australia at the ISA World Junior Surfing Championships in El Salvador in September.

The opportunity to compete at home in the lead-up adds extra significance, with both surfers set to test themselves against many of the country’s top juniors in front of a local crowd.

Zoric has dominated her division in recent years, winning the under-14 girls title three years in a row, while Crowley will line up in the highly competitive under-18 boys’ division.

 

The Oz Grom Open is one of only five 10,000-point rated events in Australia, making it a key stop on the national Junior Qualifying Series for surfers chasing international selection.

Running alongside the junior divisions is the WSL Pro Junior, featuring surfers aged 18–21 competing for valuable ranking points and progression opportunities within the world junior pathway.

Founded in 2012 by local club Le-Ba Boardriders, the event was created to raise the bar in junior surfing by offering a platform that combined professional standards with grassroots values.

“We wanted to offer something unique to the future stars of the sport and give something back to the community with an event that had longevity,” Le-Ba vice-president Johnny Hewett said.

The event has helped launch the careers of several standout surfers, including junior world champion Dane Henry, Ocea Curtis and Mikey McDonagh.

The judging system includes a repechage format, giving competitors more time in the water and another chance to progress through the rounds.

Spectators are encouraged to attend throughout the event, with a live broadcast also streaming on YouTube.