Gisborne’s Makorori Beach turns it on for Grom Series

Piha surfer Poppy Arkle won the female under-18 division at the final event of the New Zealand Grom Series at Makorori Beach. Photo / Derek Fryer

Makorori Beach served up some of the best conditions of the New Zealand Grom Series when the final event was held there over the weekend.

Piha’s Poppy Arkle and Mount Maunganui’s Tyler Stenze won the under-18 divisions of the Sequence Surf Gisborne Junior Pro in perfect 1-metre waves.

Other winners were Zara Owen (Dunedin) and Luca Thompson (Raglan) in the U16 divisions and Louis Macquet (Ōhope) and Summer Holmes (Mount) in the U14 divisions.

Gisborne surfer Jaxon Pardoe made the male U16 final.

Thompson won that division with a 15.84 total for his two best waves. Sol Fritchley (Mt M) was second, posting a 9.17 for his last ride as he searched for a near-perfect wave.

Jesse Frazerhurst (Auckland) was third and Pardoe fourth.

In the female U18 division, Arkle had her first win of the series, having made eight finals at eight events in a stellar season. She capped her performance with a last ride of 9.57 for a 17.07 total.

Kyra Wallis (Piha) had a pair of 7-point rides for second place. Sage Fritchley (Mnt) posted an excellent 8.67 to be in the hunt, but could not find a back-up score and finished third. Indi-Lee Ruddell (Whangārei) was fourth.

In the male U18 division, Stenzel had his third win of the season. The smooth natural-foot surfer posted 15.50 in a tight final.

Sev Tolhurst (Piha) and Van Camenzind (Rag) hugged the lefts all final. Camenzind posted a late 8.23 ride, but had to settle for third, with Tolhurst second. First-time finalist Sam Greetis (Rag) was fourth.

Dunedin surfer Owen, 14, won the female U16 division with a 15.00 total in the final. Isla McKay (Whangārei/Raglan) was second in her first final of the year. Selva Petzold de la Cruz (Rag) was third and Jade Nias Phillips (Ahipara) fourth.

The U14 divisions went to Whakatāne surfer Louis Macquet, his first win of the year, and Summer Holmes (Mt M), her second win of the season.

The 2026 New Zealand Grom Series winners were –

U18 male: Alexis Owen (Dun).

U18 female: Maya Mateja (Rag).

U16 male: Sol Fritchley (Mt M).

U16 female: Lola Groube (Pauanui).

U14 male: Ffeon Clifford (Mt M).

U14 female: Summer Holmes (Mt M).