Huntington Beach’s Finn Castle and Canada’s Ocea Green claimed victory in the U16 division at the Rip Curl North America GromSearch National Final, earning an all-expenses-paid trip to Hossegor, France, where they’ll compete against the world’s best groms for the International GromSearch Title.
Castle also clinched the top spot in the U14 division, alongside U14 Girls Champ Teagan Meza, showcasing his dominance across both age groups.
The National Final, held over the weekend at Atlantic Park Surf, brought together 64 of the top under-16 surfers from across North America. Hosted at the continent’s first Wavegarden Cove Surf Lagoon, the event provided the perfect setting for a high-performance showdown that highlighted the next generation of surfing talent.
“It’s incredible,” said PJ Connell, Vice President of Marketing & E-Commerce at Rip Curl North America. “We had events across North America, and now they’ve all come here to the pool. It’s like a stadium for surfing — every kid gets an equal opportunity to express themself, it’s really fun to watch.”
Connell added that the controlled-wave environment offers a unique platform for young athletes to progress. “The ocean has a lot of barriers to entry — the conditions, the temperature, the size of the waves,” he said. “With a controlled environment like this, you can shape the waves and help grow the sport and the community.”
Final Results
Boys U16
1st – Finn Castle – 18.43
2nd – Tanner Sandvig – 14.97
3rd – Merrik Mochkatel – 14.67
4th – Makai Castle – 11.60
Boys U14
1st – Finn Castle – 17.23
2nd – Hayden Flores – 17.10
3rd – Giacomo Mesinas – 15.50
4th – Wyatt Yount – 12.37
Girls U16
1st – Ocea Green – 14.50
2nd – Alana Lopez – 12.07
3rd – Marlo Harris – 11.73
4th – Kaydn Persidok – 9.94
Girls U14
1st – Teagan Meza – 16.26
2nd – Auburn Hilley – 16.17
3rd – Estorya Martinez – 13.40
4th – Amari Moore – 11.70
Specialty Awards:
- Channel Islands High Heat Total: Giacomo Mesinas – 18.73 (Custom Surfboard)
- Banzai Bowls Best Air: Finn Castle ($300 + Banzai Bowls Trophy)
- Murf eBikes U16 Champion Award: Finn Castle & Ocea Green (eBikes for both 1st Place U16 Winners)
It was nearly a perfect clean sweep for Huntington Beach’s Finn Castle, who dominated the weekend by winning Boys U16, Boys U14, and the Banzai Bowls Best Air award — an unprecedented triple victory at the National Final.
For Nate Stevens, General Manager of Atlantic Park Surf, the event represents more than just a competition — it’s a glimpse at the future of East Coast surfing.
“The community is already embedded in surf culture,” Stevens said. “And now that we have guaranteed perfect waves all day, every day, it’s massive — the community is so excited. We’re getting visitors from all over — the East Coast, the Midwest, even the West Coast. People are booking trips to experience the first Wavegarden Cove Surf Lagoon in North America.”
Stevens added that hosting the National Final underscores Virginia Beach’s growing reputation as a year-round surf destination, providing a boost to local hotels, restaurants, and surf shops. “We’re just scratching the surface,” he said. “Every event builds on the last, and by 2026, this is only going to get bigger.”
For many competitors, it was their first time surfing an artificial wave — and a chance to connect with the broader GromSearch community. “I grew up surfing and loved it ever since,” said Merrik Mochkatel (Oahu, HI). “I never saw myself in Virginia Beach, but I’m here, and I’m excited to be here.” “All the waves are different, and you want to know how to surf a lot of different waves,” added Teagan Sandvig (CA). “This wave pool is so sick,” said Zoë Panettiere (CA). “I’m just trying to enjoy every moment and have fun doing what I’m capable of.”
The Rip Curl GromSearch National Final was presented by Flexfit, with support from WRV Surf Shop, Sun Bum, Banzai Bowls, Yeti, FCS, Sticky Bumps, Channel Islands Surfboards, Oakley, Skull Candy, Murf eBikes, and Wahoo’s Fish Tacos. “It’s so good for this town,” Connell said. “Rip Curl’s already working with local shops, and this just helps lift everybody up. The tide’s rising together.”
Founded in 1969 in Torquay, Australia, Rip Curl is a global leader in surfing and action sports apparel, gear, and events. Known as The Ultimate Surfing Company, Rip Curl remains dedicated to The Search — inspiring the next generation of surfers through performance-driven products, grassroots competitions, and innovation that keeps the spirit of surfing alive. As an official partner of Atlantic Park Surf, Rip Curl continues to support the growth of surf culture in Virginia Beach and across North America through community-driven events and athlete development.
