Wales’ best junior surfers descended on Langland Bay for Gromageddon over the weekend, in a Godzilla-sized event hosted by Langland Board Riders.

Following grom comps at Rest Bay, and then Whitesands Bay in October, Gromageddon marked the final stage in the Welsh Surfing Federation’s Junior Surf Series.

Judges and spectators were treated to a shred-fest of mammoth proportions, as young rippers from Welsh Coast Surf Club (WCSC), Channel Coast Surf Club (CCSC), Langland Board Riders (LBR), Gower Bays Surf Club (GBSC), and Pembrokeshire Surf Club (PSC) tore the roof off the home of the LBR.

There was a fantastic turnout, with surfer categories including: U10 mixed, then boys and girls groups at U12; U14; U16; U18; and U18 mixed longboard.

Each entrant was competing for prestige, an XXL haul of prizes, and points that would allow them to King Kong their way to the top of the leaderboard to become WSF Junior Surf Series champion.

What’s that coming over the hill? It’s the future of Welsh surfing

Heats got underway around 8:30am, when entrants paddled onto Langland reef to get stuck into waves breaking in the 2–4ft range. The groms were frothing to get to work and stayed super busy in the lineup, hunting down the shifting peaks in challenging cross-shore winds.

Support on the shore was just as lit, with friends, family and spectators congregating around the slip and along the promenade to watch the action unfold. Cheers erupted as the young surfers took the Langland ramps apart, with many of the best shapes caught on camera by our event photographers.

The early morning heats out of the way, Welsh U16 champion Elijah Jones (PSC) showcased his logging talents to land first place in the Mixed Longboard.

In the Girls U12 final, LBR’s Katrina Roth Gale exhibited skill and resilience, securing the gold medal. She was closely followed by Molly Shelmerdine (LBR) in second, and Daisy Williams (WCSC) in third. A high voltage Boys U12 final saw Monty Cole (GBSC) put on an electric display that lasered his name on the top of the roster.

The energy didn’t drop after lunch as the Mixed U10 final kicked off in 2ft surf on the right-hand side of the bay. Work rates skyrocketed and each grom picked up an individual award based on their standout moments.

Arwenna Davies (WCSC) had a big appetite for waves that landed her the award for Best Commitment and Best Bottom Turn. WCSC’s Ray Wyn Bailey came at the walls with confidence and poise; he walked away with Best Take-Off and Best Style. Judges applauded the measured approach of Joey Morgan-Rowe (WCSC) who received the prize for Best Wave Choice and Best Cutback.

Summer Marie-Moore (WCSC) is making a habit of visiting the podium in 2025; the U14 Welsh champion delivered a strong performance to add Gromageddon gold to her haul for this season.

In the Boys U14 final, Ryan Croucher (WCSC) steadily built scores to nail down first place. Ollie Koby Phillips (CCSC) banked the silver medal, his 8.5 ride winning him the loot for Gromageddon’s highest single wave score.

Local ripper, Taylor Shelmerdine (LBR) managed to get ahead of CCSC rival, Caitlin Bazley in a hard-fought U16 Girls final. This was followed by a clinic courtesy of Coby Jon Williams (WCSC) who was thoroughly deserving of his Boys U16 title.

PSC super grom, Josie Hawke put on a trademark display of strength and skill to win the Girls U18, and an outstanding day of competition was capped off by a Boys U18 final that went to the wire, with Tomos O’Leary (WCSC) finishing just ahead of club-mate Luca Owen.

Event Organisers, Simon ‘Slug’ Page and Sam Johnson said:

“Thank you to our LBR sponsors for the amazing prizes, and to all the groms and their adults for making it here, and of course all the volunteer judges and flag wavers!

“We were worried after Friday night’s storm, with so much water moving about, that conditions might be tough, but the level from these U18 surfers blew us away.

“And with the youngest divisions having the biggest entries, the future of Welsh surfing is looking strong.”

Full Results

Mixed U10 Final

Arwenna Davies (WCSC): Best Commitment & Best Bottom Turn

Ray Wyn Bailey (WCSC): Best Take-Off & Best Style

Joey Morgan-Rowe (WCSC): Best Wave Choice & Best Cutback

Mixed Longboard

1. Elijah Jones (PSC)

2. Ryan Croucher (WCSC)

3. William Proctor (WCSC)

4. Delphi Beck (PSC)

Girls U12

1. Katrina Roth Gale (LBR)

2. Molly Shelmerdine (LBR)

3. Daisy Williams (WCSC)

Boys U12

1. Monty Cole (GBSC)

2. Ted Davies (LBR)

3. Ray W Bailey (WCSC)

4. Reuben Davies (WCSC)

Girls U14

1. Summer Marie-Moore (WCSC)

2. Bella Davies

Boys U14

1. Ryan Croucher (WCSC)

2. Ollie Koby Phillips (CCSC) & highest wave score

3. Bryn Baker (PSC)

4. Indi Jones (CCSC)

Girls U16

1. Taylor Shelmerdine (LBR)

2. Caitlin Elizabeth Bazley (CCSC)

Boys U16

1. Coby Jon Williams (WCSC)

2. Max Davies (LBR)

3. Elijah Jones (PSC)

4. Thomas Best

Girls U18

1. Josie Hawke (PSC)

2. Delphi Beck (PSC)

3. Indi Lynch (PSC)

Boys U18

1. Tomos O’Leary (WCSC)

2. Luca Owen (WCSC)