Three years ago, Curly United Boardriders’ Association (CUBA) elders Michael Griggs, Matt Bemrose, and Scott Mellis decided they wanted to create a stronger sense of community for the young surfers coming through. Micro CUBA was born.
“There were quite a few kids surfing with their mums and dads, which is cool, but not as cool as surfing with your mates,” says Scott. “So, we thought, if we have a fun event for them each month where they surf, compete, and just hang out, it can then help them discover the best thing about surfing – which is surfing with all your mates!” At the next CUBA competition day, the first ever Micro-Groms heat was staged. “It all went great,” explains Michael. “But we decided best to have the groms on their own dedicated day and ensure the waves are a bit smaller, the conditions more ideal.”
From there, the monthly, dedicated CUBA Micro-Groms took off. “We run the monthly comps, which can then form 3 or 4 event series,” says Scott. “It gets the kids so revved up, winning prizes, tracking their progress, having their points tallies, building towards becoming series champions.”
Michael continues, “Thanks to the LiveHeats website which greatly assists in running surf contests, the kids can all see their scores online and work out what they need to do in the next heat, next contest, in order to win the title or beat their favourite rival! It’s gold. They’re so into it.”
With the next generation of surfers all amped on improving, and keen to spend more time in the water, weekly training sessions were added. “The rippers in CUBA, Ed Aubrey, Harley Ross, Corey Ross, Perko, spend time with the groms,” says Scott. “This creates that broader sense of community, and a link the between younger and older surfers plus, the coaching is unreal. The groms go out and try their best, seeing things in their surfing us mums and dads have no idea about.”
It’s not all smooth sailing, running a surf contest is a logistical nightmare at the best of times, so you can imagine adding a platoon of frothing grommies to the mix can test even the most Zen surfer’s patience. “Luckily, managing the day, everyone is helping out,” explains Scott. “Setting up, judging, firing up the BBQ, sorting contest rashies, time keeping, admin, it’s all happening, not to mention, dealing with Mother Nature can always throw a spanner in the works, whether the surf’s too big, too small, or a howling nor’ easter smothers the whole beach in bluebottles, but we always manage to make it work, and have so many cracking good days.”
Michael finishes by summing up perfectly why the whole endaeavour is absolutely priceless, “The old school Curly boys, we wanted to ensure a future for our kids at the beach we grew up at, and from 8 kids at the start to suddenly 80 kids a few years later, with the full community spirit and support, it’s incredible. No politics, no nonsense, just families getting together in a safe and supportive environment for the kids and CUBA’s future. There are lots of beaches on the coast, but there’s only one we call home.”
Find out more at the Micro CUBA website, follow @microcuba on Instagram, and let them know if you’ve got a grommie keen to surf, make friends and join the fun at Curly.