This rat pack of Nicaraguan groms are maniacs – nothing over 5ft, screaming bloody murder every time a set lurches through, then casually stomping 360s before their voices have broken. Their Charm? They’re still just kids – no sticker-plastered egos, no wannabe pro posturing – just frothing to surf with their mates and packing plenty talent.
The first time I saw a grom in Nicaragua was at Colorado’s when this young boy disappeared behind the curtain on a wave that was easily double overhead on him before being spat out with his arms tall and his grin like a Cheshire cat. From then on I wasn’t watching anyone but the groms.
Given their overt passion in the lineup, I wanted to see what it would be like if a put a mic in front of their face. In order to get that opportunity I linked up with Julio Aragon – a local who the kids all trail behind.
Once I had his contact I nagged him for weeks. With my shitty Spanish and an honest fear of teenage boys thinking I was uncool (my worst nightmare), I needed him to hold my hand. And that he did. He pulled off the impossible: getting six teenage boys to sit in a line and get mushy about their “dreams and aspirations” in front of each other – and me, a girl.
Here’s what they had to say:
Moisés
How old are you?
14
When did you start surfing?
2 and ½ years ago.
What’s your favourite surf spot around here?
Colorados.
Do you have a favourite surfer?
Felipe Toledo.
If you could have any board in the world, what would it be?
A lost.
What’s something people do in the water that pisses you off?
Beginners.
Say it louder.
No, haha.
Why do you surf?
To become a professional, to represent Nicaragua.
Tell me about your best wave.
At Panga Drops, I landed an air.
Emmanuel
How old are you?
15
When did you start surfing?
3 years ago.
What’s your favourite surf spot around here?
In Nicaragua haha? Colorados.
Do you have a favourite surfer?
John John Florence.
If you could have any board in the world, what would it be?
A stretch.
What’s something people do in the water that pisses you off?
When they drop in on me.
Why do you surf?
Because I like it and I want to be good at it.
Tell me about your best wave.
A right hander where I carved twice and finished it clean.
Gerald
How old are you?
13
When did you start surfing?
3 years ago.
What’s your favourite surf spot around here?
Playa Amarillo Sur.
Do you have a favourite surfer?
Yago.
Just cause he won the last one haha.
Today I say Yago, but my real favourite is Italo.
If you could have any board in the world, what would it be?
A firewire.
You already have one.
It’s broken.
What’s something people do in the water that pisses you off?
Beginners haha.
Why do you surf?
Because ever since I broke my board, I want to surf more.
Tell me about your best wave.
Here, just now, I did a 360 air and landed it. But you know what I like most in the water? Seeing ass haha.
Albert
How old are you?
14
When did you start surfing?
3 years ago.
What’s your favourite surf spot around here?
Main break, Popoyo.
Do you have a favourite surfer?
John John Florence.
If you could have any board in the world, what would it be?
Al Merrick.
What’s something people do in the water that pisses you off?
When someone steals my wave and I’m sitting on the peak.
Why do you surf?
Because I like it – it’s a good sport.
Tell me about your best wave.
At Amarillo North, I got barrelled and finished with a cutback.
Samuel
How old are you?
15
When did you start surfing?
4 years ago.
What’s your favourite surf spot around here?
Playa Manzanillo.
Do you have a favourite surfer?
Gabriel Medina.
If you could have any board in the world, what would it be?
A stretch.
What’s something people do in the water that pisses you off?
When they drop in and paddle right in front of me.
Why do you surf?
Because I want to debut in the WSL.
Tell me about your best wave.
Sunday, it was low tide, I did an air.
Gabriel
How old are you?
13
When did you start surfing?
1 and ½ years ago.
What’s your favourite surf spot around here?
Playa Amarillo.
Do you have a favourite surfer?
Medina.
If you could have any board in the world, what would it be?
A stretch.
What’s something people do in the water that pisses you off?
I don’t like people stealing my waves, and when they get in the way of you riding the wave.
Why do you surf?
Because I want to surf like Medina.
Tell me about your best wave.
At Amarillo North, I did a good floater and a bottom turn.
Moral of the story: stay out of their way and watch ‘em turn world class waves into their playground.
And lastly, a big shout out to Brigada de Limpeza de Gigante. The Brigada teaches kids sustainability, runs weekly beach cleanups, and fuels their love of surfing while keeping every dollar raised in the community. They’re getting boards, fins, trunks, comp entries to the kids – making sure nothing stops them from being in the water and, just as importantly, off the streets getting mixed up in some pretty gnarly shit. You can support them here.
