The best young surfers in North America are in Virginia Beach today for the Rip Curl GromSearch National Final, the culmination of the 2026 season at Atlantic Park Surf. You can watch here.
Competitors earned their spots through qualifying stops in Tofino, British Columbia; Huntington Beach, California; Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi; and Ocean City, New Jersey. The top finishers from each now meet to decide the 2026 GromSearch National titles in the U14 and U16 Boys and Girls divisions.
The stakes are highest in the U16 divisions. The U16 Boys and U16 Girls National Champions will qualify for the Rip Curl GromSearch International Final in Australia this November, where they’ll represent North America among the best junior surfers from around the world.
Competition runs on Atlantic Park Surf’s T2 Advanced wave setting, the same one used for last year’s National Final, so every heat gets consistent, high-performance conditions. The lagoon is powered by Wavegarden Cove technology, which can produce up to 1,000 waves per hour and more than 20 wave types, from one to six feet.
“Atlantic Park Surf is honored to welcome back the Rip Curl GromSearch, building on the success of last year’s event,” said Nate Stevens, the venue’s general manager. “The high-performance surfing from North America’s top youth surfers will be on full display in our lagoon, sharing a glimpse into the future of the sport.”
Spectators can watch in person for $10, and the full day streams live on Rip Curl’s YouTube channel for everyone else.
The GromSearch is a worldwide series built to give young surfers a fun, high-performance place to compete, and past competitors have gone on to become some of the biggest names in professional surfing. The 2026 North America season is supported by Flexfit, Sun Bum, YETI, FCS, Banzai Bowls, Ritual Vision, Hawaiian Airlines, and Lost Surfboards.
Atlantic Park Surf is the centerpiece of the 10-acre, $350 million Atlantic Park development. Learn more at AtlanticParkSurf.com.
Rip Curl GromSearch National Final
When: Thursday, October 8, 2026
Where: Atlantic Park Surf, Virginia Beach, Virginia
Divisions: U14 Girls, U14 Boys, U16 Girls, U16 Boys
Admission: $10 for spectators
Watch live: Rip Curl YouTube channel
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