Freshly crowned National Champions, eager groms and local hopefuls are among the many young surfers taking part in the sold-out first event of the Billabong Grom Series presented by Oceanbridge being held at Mount Maunganui this weekend.

The first of three events takes place at Tay Street with the series carrying on to Whangamata (February 11-12) and Piha at the end of February (February 25-26).

With top junior surfers available to compete, the action is expected to be impressive as everyone battles it out to be the champion of the Billabong Grom Series.

Newly crowned Boys' Under 18 National Champion Navryn Malone (Rag) made the perfect start at Piha winning the title and overcoming his three close rivals in Tao Mouldey, (surfing up a division), Kalani Louis (Tara) and Tai Murphy (Whaka).

All surfers will be looking to reverse the results from the National Championships come this weekend at Mount Maunganui.

The weather forecast shows a change in weather patterns that will give the groms a weekend packed with waves.

Days of strong westerly winds and marginal swell along the Bay of Plenty coastline are expected to give way to a more north-easterly air flow this weekend which will see the swell get to over 1.0m with onshore winds predicted.

The Under 18 Girls' Division will be absent of new National Champion and Australian based Tayla Green.

However, her counterparts will be looking to make up some ground on the rankings including Open Women's National Champion and runner-up to Green in the Under 18s, Pia Rogers (Whanga).

Local talent including Anna and Sophia Brock will also be attending the event looking for another win on their home turf.

For almost half the field of 130 surfers, this will be their first national outing of 2023 after forgoing the week-long National Championships.

The Billabong Grom Series presented by Oceanbridge offers up many surfers first taste of events, pitting themselves against their mates and taking in a fun two days of surfing and developing their skills in the ocean.

Participants will also be teaming up for the boardrider clubs with the top five surfers results from each club going toward overall club rankings at the event.

The 2023 edition of the series draws on a long history of fun with all of New Zealand's current crop of elite surfers having taken part including Richard Christie (Gis), Paige Hareb (Tara), Billy Stairmand (Rag), Mount Maunganui's own Kehu Butler and Ella Williams (WGM).

It is the eighteenth year that Billabong has sponsored the series in partnership with Oceanbridge who have been a proud long-time supporter of junior surfing in New Zealand.

Action takes place at Tay Street, Mount Maunganui from 8am until late afternoon on both Saturday and Sunday. Live scoring can be viewed at Liveheats.com/SurfingNewZealand.