R

ip Curl is set to kick off its eight year of searching for Indonesia’s hottest surfers under age 16 in its annual Rip Curl GromSearch on Feb. 20.

The competition will be held in West Java at the Batu Karas break a few hours west of the provincial capital of Bandung.

Surfers male and female from all over Java will be hopping aboard planes, trains, automobiles and motorbikes, making their way to the beach for a fun-filled day of surfing, games and giveaways that has become a time-honored Rip Curl surfing tradition.

The winner and the runner up in the under 16 division of the 2011 Rip Curl GromSearch will receive an all-expense paid trip to compete in the GromSearch National Finals in October at Kuta Beach in Bali.

A great adventure awaits those lucky winners on what may be their first trip to Bali, with a week-long Grom Training Camp and a surfing competition with the chance to become Indonesia’s 2011 Rip Curl GromSearch Champion.

The grand prize for the champion at Kuta Beach is a trip to Australia in 2012 to compete in the Rip Curl GromSearch World Finals held every year at Bells Beach.

Last year’s GromSearch winner Jeren Kiring will be heading to Australia this April to take on the world’s best junior surfers at Bells Beach.

The second stop on the Rip Curl GromSearch lands the team in Kuta, South Lombok, on March 20, then over to Lakey Peak in Sumbawa on April 10.

They will then return to Bali, to the long lefthand break of Medewi on Sept. 11, before all the winners will gather for the final competition at Kuta Beach on Oct. 8 and 9.

“Rip Curl is always on a search for the best and most talented surfers around the globe,” Rip Curl’s SEA marketing manager James Hendy said in a press release.

“The GromSearch not only gives us the chance to check out the up and coming talent from all over Indonesia, but gives kids that have never competed before a taste of what it’s like in a fun, relaxed environment.”

“The event also provides the older more experienced [youths] with a stepping stone towards competing at an international level with the chance of winning a place at the World GromSearch Finals held during the Rip Curl Pro Search at Bells Beach in Australia.”

There is no entrance fee to participate in the events, and all contestants will receive a Rip Curl T-shirt and other items.

They will also be taught environmental awareness and given the chance to participate in non-surfing activities during the day.