After having twice welcomed the Quiksilver Pro Portugal, Ericeira (Portugal) will welcome for the first time the European Final of the Quiksilver King of the Groms, the leading competition for the best surfers under 16 years of age.  The champions of tomorrow will come together between 24th and 26th August to challenge each other at the famous breaks in De Foz do Lisandro.

After the European Qualifying rounds, the names of the 18 young surfers who have qualified for the European Final have finally been determined.  Every one of them participated in the national qualification stages with the sole aim of booking their place in this final.  Two wildcards will also be given for participation in the final.  One has been allocated to a French rider from team Quiksilver, Aldric God, aged 15, who finished 3rd in the qualification event at Capbreton.  It will be his second time taking part in the European Final.  The second wildcard will be determined by a course of trials on the first day of the competition.  5 to 10 young stars will challenge each other for a place in the final.

This year, the European King of the Groms Final will be sponsored by Team Quiksilver rider, Vasco Ribeiro, 3rd in the International Final in 2010.  The rising star of Portuguese surfing will share his experience in this competition with the young surfers and support them during the event at his home town of Ericeira.

Competition will be tough.  On offer for the 2 finalists at this European Final will be a ticket for the International Final that will take place during the Quiksilver Pro France, from the 27th September to the 8th October this year.  There they will rub shoulders with the sport’s world elite, Kelly Slater, Jeremy Flores, Dane Reynolds… on the Basque-Landes beaches.

The list of surfers who have qualified for the European King of the Groms final.

France                                                 Portugal
Nelson Cloarec                                Tomas Fernandes
Diego Mignot                                   Fonseca Guilherme
Nommé Mignot                               Vasco Monica
Arthur Lassee                                   Jacome Correia

UK                                                         French India
Rhys Barfield                                    Tim Bisso
Ed Smith
Italy
Spain & Canaries Island         Brando Pacitto
Alex Iriondo
Luis Diaz                                             Marocco
Julen Eriguren                                 Abdehmamin Dribki

Benelux                                             Wildcards
TBC                                                    Aldric God
Vainqueur des Trials

Also taking place during the Quiksilver King of the Groms will be the Portuguese round of Quiksilver King of the Band, aimed at discovering young rockstars in their 20s.  During the month of July, the young bands all posted demos on the Portuguese site, Mega Hits.  On the 31st July, the jury, made up of people from both Mega Hits and Quiksilver, will select 4 finalists who will book their place to play live at the skatepark at the Ericeira Boardriders on 25th August.

SCHEDULE

Friday 24/08:
Day                        TRIALS
KOTG competition
Evening               Quiksilver session – Tiago Pires Boardriders – Ericeira

Saturday 25/08:
Day                        KOTG competition
Evening               King of the Band + DJ Set

Sunday 26/08:
Day                        KOTG competition

·         Format reminder for the King of the Groms

European Final at Ericeira in Portugal – from 24 – 26  August 2012
20 surfers compete (18 qualified from their respective countries + 2 wildcards)
2 surfers qualify for the International Final.

International Final during the Quiksilver Pro France – from 28 September – 8 October 2012
18 surfers compete (with 2 from the European Final + 14 qualifiers from the international circuit + 2 wildcards)