Groms: A New Generation
Introducing 10 talented young surfers
BY Beth Watson Hedgepeth
Checking the waves every morning. Living by one of the best breaks in North Carolina with the old-school surfers. Enjoying the weather and waves. Surfing three or four times a day with friends and family. Being in the water all the time. Being close to a super nice beach. Going to Masonboro. Fishing every day.
Those are the best things about living in the Wrightsville Beach area according to 10 groms who are a part of the next-generation surf community.
Grom is the shorter nickname for grommet. According to Surfcasual, the term grommet (from the 1960s) or gremmie, derived from the word gremlin (from the 1940s and 1950s), refers to a young or inexperienced surfer.
Surfing communities adapted the word over the years to describe talented young surfers. It’s both a sign of admiration and a label for younger, less experienced surfers.
In 2005, Wrightsville Beach Magazine published an article about seven local young surfers. An update followed eight years later, and another 10 years after that.
Now our pages focus on a new generation of talented surfers with the same love for the ocean as the generations before them.
While they have varied skills, interests, and successes, their common passion revolves around the local waters.
Wilson Carlisle
Age 15, Sophomore
Favorite way to spend his spare time: Surfing, traveling, playing football, working with his dad.
When did you start surfing? “I’ve been surfing for as long as I can remember. I started out on the front of my parents’ paddle boards.”
Why do you surf? “I enjoy how peaceful the ocean makes me feel.”
Who are your biggest influences (in general or in the surfing world)? “My greatest influences are my mother and father. They taught me almost everything I know. My neighbor, and one of the people that influenced me most in surfing, started me on an old board of his from the ’70s. He also bought me my first board.”
What are your future goals? “Travel and surf. I would like to be able to work in the surf industry in the future.”
Fun fact: Loves football and plays on the Hoggard High team.
Christian “Meeps” Castiglione
Age 15, sophomore
Favorite way to spend his spare time: Surfing, fishing, skating, biking, playing guitar, and spearfishing.
When did you start surfing? “I began surfing around age 6.”
Why do you surf? “I enjoy the competitive aspect of it. I love competing in contests to improve my surfing. I also love the free surfing side of it because of the exploration and experience you gain from it. Surfing allows you to travel to so many great places and learn and see new things.”
Who are your biggest influences (in general or in the surfing world)? “My greatest influences in surfing are the people who were able to become great that are from my town, such as Ben Bourgeois.”
What are your future goals? “My future goal in surfing is to go as high as possible in the competitive surf world and compete at the highest level I possibly can.”
Fun fact: Plays lead guitar in a band called The Knuckleheads.
Sam Hipp
Age 13, 8th grade
Favorite way to spend his spare time: Surfing, drone photography, playing ice hockey.
When did you start surfing? “I started surfing when I was 4 years old.”
Why do you surf? “There is nothing better than being in the ocean and catching waves with my friends.”
Who are your biggest influences (in general or in the surfing world)? “My influences are my dad, Sam Reidy, Owen Moss, and Griffin Colapinto.”
What are your future goals? “My goals with surfing are to make the World Surf League (WSL) and win a world title.”
Fun fact: Also likes to ski.
Miles Hufham
Age 12, 7th grade
Favorite way to spend his spare time: Being outdoors, surfing, riding my bike, carving on the skateboard, and hanging with family and friends.
When did you start surfing? “I started surfing when I was 8 years old.”
Why do you surf? “I love to surf because it’s really fun, and I love the feeling I get when I land a sick turn. Being in the water makes me feel free, and I am able to relax and chill and escape the stress of the world.”
Who are your biggest influences (in general or in the surfing world)? “My greatest influences are Owen Moss, Griffin Colapinto, and my dad.
What are your future goals? “Future goals are to surf in the WSL, travel the world surfing, and to be sponsored by Red Bull.”
Fun fact: Loves to draw and skilled at pencil sketching.
Mason Kober
Age 15, sophomore
Favorite way to spend his spare time: Water sports — surfing, SUP racing, SUP surfing, fishing. Competes in stand up paddleboard races along the East Coast.
When did you start surfing? “I started riding different kinds of boards at 5, and I was 7 when I got my first surfboard.”
Why do you surf? “It makes me happy, and I can be with my friends.”
Who are your biggest influences (in general or the surfing world)? “Probably Jarrod Covington, owner of Wrightsville Beach SUP. He was my SUP race coach. We like the same things, and he teaches me a lot. He is funny and hardworking.”
What are your future goals? “Just to keep getting better and to work on the water.”
Fun fact: His family has called him the negotiator since he was about 2. He’s always been determined for things to go his way, and he will let you know why.
Benjamin Mullis
Age 13, 8th grade
Favorite way to spend his spare time: Surfing, fishing, playing basketball.
When did you start surfing? “I started surfing at age 4.”
Why do you surf? “I surf because I love being in the ocean that challenges me and sharing waves with my friends.”
Who are your biggest influences (in general or the surfing world)? “My dad, because he’s a good surfer and pushes me to be better. My mom for teaching me to stay positive.”
What are your future goals? “I would like to make it to the finals this year at the ESA Easterns and travel to surf more challenging waves.”
Fun fact: Loves to play basketball and watch the Tar Heels.
Finn Viorel
Age 16, junior
Favorite way to spend his spare time: Being at the beach with my friends, playing guitar, traveling to new surf destinations.
When did you start surfing? “When I was around 5 my dad would always try to get me to surf, but it wasn’t really something I enjoyed. I would much rather be looking for shark teeth or swimming. But when I was 10, I decided to give it a shot again. Everything just clicked when I tried again. From there, I couldn’t stop surfing.”
Why do you surf? “I surf because I enjoy being in the ocean. The ocean is very therapeutic and calming.”
Who are your biggest influences (in general or the surfing world)? “My greatest influence would be my dad. He’s extremely supportive in whatever I do, and he inspires me to be the best me.”
What are your future goals? “My goal is to always push myself in whatever I do and to have no regrets.”
Fun fact: Plays guitar and composes his own songs.
Shae Whitaker
Age 15, sophomore
Favorite way to spend his spare time: Surfing, skating, hunting, fishing, and golfing — anything outdoors and active
When did you start surfing? “I started surfing around age 6.”
Why do you surf? “I surf because it’s super fun. I like being outside and in the water.”
Who are your biggest influences (in general or the surfing world)? “Griffin Colapinto is my favorite surfer.”
What are your future goals? “My goals for surfing are to win Easterns.”
Fun fact: Instructor at Indo Jax, shapes his own surfboards.
Fletcher Whittle
Age 16, junior
Favorite way to spend his spare time: Surfing, shaping boards, fishing, prone paddling, and golfing.
When did you start surfing? “I started surfing when I was 3.”
Why do you surf? “I surf because I love being in the ocean and feeling connected with it. Surfing is also super rewarding and fun and a great way to spend time.”
Who are your biggest influences (in general or the surfing world)? “Will Alison influenced me because he is successful in both surfing and shaping. Ben Bourgeois and Cam Richards are amazing role models and have both been super supportive.”
What are your future goals? “My goal is to pursue a career in surfing and shaping.”
Fun fact: Shaped his first surfboard at age 8 and won ESA Easterns at age 14 on a board that he shaped.
Carson Wilcox
Age 16, junior
Favorite way to spend his spare time: Surfing, fishing, spear fishing, shaping surfboards.
When did you start surfing? “7 years old.”
Why do you surf? “I surf because it’s fun and challenging at the same time. There is always something to improve on.”
Who are your biggest influences (in general or the surfing world)? “My greatest surfing influences are John John Florence and Gabriel Medina.”
What are your future goals? “My goals are to keep getting better at surfing. I try to surf every day and work to improve. I want to participate in more surf events and continue to do more advanced surfing.”
Fun fact: Also likes spearfishing.
Wrightsville Beach Board Riders Club
The Wrightsville Beach Board Riders Club was established two years ago and has already met its goal to be a community-driven organization that connects the surfing community. A 501(c)(3) organization founded by Ben Bourgeois, Chris Curry, David Jacobs, and Ross Stevens, the WBBRC has members of all ages.
“It’s done what we wanted it to do. It’s opened doors and given opportunities for mentorship,” board member Erin Whittle says.
The clubs started in Australia more than 50 years ago.
“As a kid I traveled to Australia, and I noticed how cool it was for many years,” says Bourgeois.
He was even allowed to surf at some events when there as a visitor.
Cities in California established the first U.S. teams, and Bourgeois stayed in contact about bringing a Board Riders Club to North Carolina.
Not only has the club connected the surfing community, but it has reconnected people as well. There are regular activities including movie premieres, beach sweeps, youth surf coaching, and social events.
Clubs host competitions throughout the year and in November it is Wrightsville Beach’s turn.
There will be seven age divisions, and the WBBRC team will have 28 surfers. The points are added up, but it doesn’t focus on individual accolades. It’s a team effort. An MVP award is given, which could be designated to someone who steps up in some way or perhaps is the high scorer for the team.
It’s competitive, yet the main point is camaraderie.
Board Riders Clubs in the United States started around five years ago.
“It’s all new and growing,” Bourgeois says.
In January 2024 Carolina Beach began a club.