Gabe's Grom Comp 2022 - Surf Station Surf Report

First Coast Surf Hero Gabe Kling Hosts his Annual Grom Competition

The word “grom” is a phrase defined as meaning “shortened from grommet, is Australian and Californian slang for a young, often precocious surfer”. While “grom” typically refers to a young surfer, it could be argued that the happiest surfers are “groms for life”. Just because our years spent in the water increase, that doesn’t mean that our stoke declines as we age. St. Augustine native and former WQS surfer Gabe Kling is an example of exactly that. A grom at heart, Kling shares the stoke with this annual Grom Comp.

This year’s event was made possible by Endless Summer Realty, Quiksilver, FCS, St. Johns Law Group, Barwick Banking Company, The Bailey Group, Florida Board Riders, and Kling’s lifelong sponsor, the Surf Station. This year’s contest hosted nearly 100 contestants, with surfers hailing from Flagler Beach, Jacksonville Beach, and St. Augustine. For the first time ever, Gabe Grom Comp offered a girl’s only division for the competition.

Entering the World of Competitive Surfing

Gabe’s Grom Comp provides up-and-coming surfers with an opportunity to gain experience in the jersey in a fun-loving, supportive environment. For many competitors, this is their first time surfing a heat.

“Gabes Grom Comp is perfect because Gabe is the ultimate grom,” said Surf Station CEO and owner Tory Strange. “He’s recreating his past as he was once one of these young surfers frothing for waves! I used to take him to events as a grom and he loved it.”

This year’s contest was met with some challenging conditions, with waves in the one to two foot range with offshore winds that clocked onshore by the afternoon. Though the waves were mostly in the knee high range, the groms made the most out of the tough conditions.

Kling, who was one of the top ranked surfers in the world during his prime, expressed his gratitude for being able to put on this event year after year.

“It’s great to see that the surfing world is in good hands,” Kling said. “These kids are surfing great. I just get stoked to see the smiles on everyone’s faces. That’s what this is all about.”