<div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The first of three events takes place at Tay Street from Saturday morning with the series carrying on to Whangamata and Piha in February. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The traditional Bay of Plenty start plays host to over one hundred groms that will take part over the two days, surfing in the event and having fun outside the competition both in and out of the surf.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Four recently crowned national age group champions return to the arena looking to carry early season momentum from the West Coast where the National Championships were held to the East Coast this weekend.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Hometown hero Tom Butland (Tara) rampaged his way to a win in the Under 16 Boys Division at the National Championships held in Taranaki, capping off an impressive week-long campaign by becoming the youngest ever finalist in the Open Men’s Division as well, placing fourth overall.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Butland is joined by Raglan’s Caleb Cutmore as the winner of the Under 18 Boys Division, Navryn Malone (Rag), winner of the Under 14 Boys Division and Natasha Gouldsbury (Tara), winner of the Under 16 Girls Division.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Under 18 and 16 Boys and Girls Divisions are brimming full of hot talent vying for national representation. However, it is the Under 14 Divisions that see the biggest number of surfers participating, many taking part in the series for the first time. Mount Maunganui with its easy access to the beach for many students means that a third of the draw is full with local talent.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Local surfers such as Tao Mouldey and Cooper Roberts will transition from the Primary School Champs events through to the Billabong Grom Series this weekend while the Brock sisters (Anna and Sophia) along with India Corcoran already have a couple of years of Grom Series events under their belts and they will want to climb up the series rankings.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The 2019 edition of the Billabong Grom Series presented by Oceanbridge is split into three divisions for boys and girls ranging from Under 14 through to Under 18 in two year increments.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Raglan’s Point Boardriders will go into the junior season as defending club champions and will be favoured to be atop the points table at the end of this season with their strong contingent of junior surfers. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The surf is expected to build overnight Friday into the 1.0m range with onshore winds on Saturday and a fading swell and offshore winds on Sunday.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Participants will all receive a Billabong Grom Series t-shirt upon entering the series as well as being in with a chance to receive piles of giveaways and prizes for podium-finishing surfers.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It is the fourteenth year that Billabong has sponsored the series in partnership with Oceanbridge who have been a proud long-time supporter of surfing in New Zealand.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Action takes place at Tay Street, Mount Maunganui from 8am until late afternoon on both Saturday and Sunday.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Please see below for the winners of the Billabong Grom Series presented by Oceanbridge in 2018.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Under 18 Boys – Jared Gebert (Ohope)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Under 16 Boys – Kora Cooper (Rag)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Under 14 Boys – Jayden Willoughby (Rag)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Under 18 Girls – Kea Smith (Mnt)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Under 16 Girls – Brie Bennett (Mnt)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Under 14 Girls – Natasha Gouldsbury (Tara)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Entry into the two remaining Billabong Grom Series presented by Oceanbridge events can be completed <strong><a href="http://www.surfingnz.co.nz/event-enter-calendar/" target="_blank">here</a></strong>:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Event 2 – 9 – 10 February, Whangamata</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Event 3 – 23 – 24 February, Piha Beach, Auckland</div>