Rip Curl GromSearch, presented by Citroën: French champions crowned ahead of European Final

01/09/26
2 minute read
Rip Curl GromSearch, presented by Citroën: French champions crowned ahead of European Final

All the winners of the European Rip Curl GromSearch, presented by Citroën, have now been crowned! The final stop of the circuit, bringing together some of Europe’s best young surfers, took place in Lacanau, France, from August 26 to 28.

Following stops in Spain, Italy, the United Kingdom and Portugal, it was France’s turn to crown its best groms. At La Centrale, competitors in the Under 16, Under 14 and Under 12 divisions had the opportunity to showcase their surfing in particularly challenging conditions.

On Wednesday and Thursday, the waves were clean but very small, averaging around 50 centimetres. Despite the challenging conditions, the Under 12, Under 14 and Under 16 Girls competitions were successfully completed.

On Friday, following a storm the previous day, conditions were messy. After several calls, competition finally got underway with waves ranging from 1.5 to 2 metres in the sets. In the afternoon, as the tide came in, conditions improved, providing some very good waves for the Under 16 Boys finals.

Results from the French Rip Curl GromSearch stop:

Boys U12

  1.  Kyan Picon
  2.  Basile Fabing
  3. Reef Butcher
  4. Leonard Caule

Girls U12

  1. Lya Degert
  2. Lucia Alcalde
  3. Charlotte Sannajust
  4. Anna Poupard

 

Boys U14

  1. Joseba Espinosa
  2. Ruben Husson
  3. Jules Trainaud
  4. Kolin Levezac


Girls U14

  1. Carla Méndez Acebo
  2. Capucine Goni
  3. Lilirose Fila Bailly
  4. Colette Dheere Gardahaut


Boys U16

  1. Noah Jeannet
  2. Louka Giraud
  3. Sydney Street
  4. Matthew Maurin-Lignieres


Girls U16

  1. Charlie Leguay
  2. Lola Echeverria
  3. Kailani Oyarzabal
  4. Cheyenne Patino Ubeda


The action now heads to Munich, Germany, where the winners of each European stop will meet on September 19 to determine the continental champions. The Under 16 surfers will then have the opportunity to compete in the international final, with the location and date to be announced soon.

Since its creation in 1999, the Rip Curl GromSearch has helped uncover numerous talents who have gone on to reach the highest levels of the international surfing scene. Former participants include several WSL World Champions and Olympic medallists, including three-time World Champion Gabriel Medina, eight-time World Champion Stephanie Gilmore, as well as Kauli Vaast and Caroline Marks, Olympic champions in 2024.

A big thank you to the European Rip Curl GromSearch partners for their support — Citroën, SunBum, I-SEA and FCS — as well as our French partners, the French Surfing Federation and Lacanau Surf Club, for helping make this event possible.