Surf’s up for kids – Rip Curl Grom Search in Phuket
Groms away! And no experience required.
Phuket doesn’t have the big booming surf of Hawaii or Australia, but it does have waves big enough to test the abilities of grommets (or groms) – youngsters who just love to grab a surfboard and head for the beach to catch a wave or two.
Now there’s an additional reason for them to paint their faces with multicoloured zinc sunblock, haul on the surfing baggies and get down to the beach: the Rip Curl Grom Search 2010.
The Search will consist of three one-day events at three different beaches: Nai Harn Beach on August 21, Kata Beach on September 4 and Surin Beach on September 18
Each day begins at 7 am with registration followed by a beach clean-up and ocean awareness program with Phuket water safety specialist Steven A. Martin – gotta pay your dues first.
Then there will be a free surf clinic (with soft boards supplied by Nautilus Surf Shop) and a free lunch of healthy salads, sandwiches and fruit juice catered by DaVinci’s Restaurant. The surf contest will offer surf heats and finals for the boys and girls in various divisions, resulting in a variety of awards, prizes, and ending with a sunset BBQ beach party and fire-twirling show.
No experience is required, say the organisers, and everyone can learn not only about surfing but also about ocean safety, rip currents and sandbanks, and how to reduce water pollution and marine garbage piling up on Phuket’s shores.
The Grom Search is presented by Australian surfing equipment and clothing company Rip Curl, and is supported by local municipalities and a variety of Phuket businesses.
For more details or to join in, go to the Rip Curl Thailand Facebook page.
Update: Facebook members can see pictures of the Nai Harn event here: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/photo.php?pid=1648573&fbid=1580413791631&id=1274256494