Children compete in Grom Roundup surfing competition on Island

The surf wasn’t up, but it was the perfect condition for young surfers who competed in the first South Padre Island Grom Roundup.

The Texas Gulf Surfing Association event invited children 13 years and younger to compete Saturday in three divisions: the Groms [ages 13 and under, the mini-Groms [11 and under] and the micro-Groms [8 and under].

The free event was the first on the Island, TGSA president Charlie Cooke said.

“It’s mainly so that we can introduce surfing to young kids,” Cooke said. “We think it’s a positive sport, and there’s a low injury rate. Once the kids do it, they’re hooked for life.”

The Island has the best surf in Texas, Cooke said, and Saturday’s waves were less than 2 foot, perfect for the children.

The children went out in the water in groups of four, and had 15 minutes to show their best tricks. The three judges, also youths, scored the competitors on their two best runs.

Adam Swindle, 13, competed in the event, his first competition. Although Swindle has participated in other sports, such as baseball, he said he thinks he’ll “stick to surfing.”

“Surfing is just awesome,” Swindle said. “It’s fun learning new tricks and trying to improve.”

He was exited about his first competition-and also scared and nervous all at once.

Adam Swindle’s mother, Daphne Swindle, is happy that he practices the sport.

“It’s really healthy for them to be outside,” the mother said. “It’s a healthy sport. It’s physical but not by hurting other people.”

Most importantly, by joining surfing competitions, Adam and her three other children get to travel and have fun, Daphne Swindle said.

As a mother, Tara Hansler is also happy her children practice surfing.

Hansler’s sons, Ian Simmons and Eland Hansler, who is only two years old, competed in the event.

“It’s a great healthy sport because it keeps them outdoors and out of trouble,” Hansler said. “I just like the lifestyle because it’s easy-going and mellow but competitive and very environmentally conscious.”

She said Eland started surfing “since he was born.”

“His pediatrician said he is advanced with his motor skills,” Hansler said. “I think a lot of it is him being out on the waves and outdoors.”

Lucinda Ines Hinojosa, 8, is a fourth grader at the Laguna Madre Christian Academy. Her mother, Alejandra Roy, said she wanted Lucinda to start surfing because she lives on the Island and it’s a sport of the ocean.

“She enjoys it a lot,” Roy said. “It builds her confidence and she enjoys connecting with the natural environment.”

Because her daughter has been training with coach Keenyn Carrasco, she has learned to respect the ocean.

“I really like that she’s learned responsibility,” Roy said. “She knows when she should surf and when she shouldn’t and not to surf by herself.”

Beth Owens brought her children Kellie Owens, 10, and Cole Longenecker, 9, from Port Aransas to participate in their first surfing competition.

“I know nothing about surfing, but they love it and wanted to start competing,” Beth said. “They have a great willingness of achievement.”

The proud mother couldn’t stop taking pictures of her children as they rode off into the waves.

“[Surfing] builds good self esteem,” Beth said. “It’s such a self-motivated sport that you really have to have it within to succeed.”

Cooke said there have been Grom Roundup competitions in Galveston and Corpus Christi and that they are trying to expand the competitions to reach more young surfers.

Thirty-two competitors registered for the Island contest. All children received a medal or a trophy based on performance, Cooke said. The event was sponsored by Dorado’s Baja Bar and Grill and Island Native Surf House.