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Story: Lifesaving and surfing

‘Grommets’ learn to surf

‘Grommets’ learn to surf

Learner surfers (referred to as grommets or gremmies) now often gain entry to the sport at surf schools. These young women students of the Raglan Surf School were practising their skills on small waves at Ngaranui Beach in 2000.

Using this item

New Zealand Herald

Reference: 19 December 2000

by Derek Flynn

Permission of the New Zealand Herald must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Nancy Swarbrick, Lifesaving and surfing – Surfing: 1970s to today, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/7378/grommets-learn-to-surf (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Nancy Swarbrick, published 2 March 2009.

Comments

wai williams donaldson
23 May 2011
hello there, actually hello to Nigel, i use to live in Gisborne, i belonged to the wainiu surf club, and became good friends, with quite a few Austalian surfers that would frequent the beaches of Gisborne. i dont know if Nigel would remember Pam and Lyn, they did stints at dances as "GoGo" girls, and there was Carol and Sue, is what we called them in those days. i remember when Nigel first started down sizing our 10 footer's to what we see now, 6 footer's, yes i believe he was the first one to introduce us to the 6foot surf board's here in NZ. i use to go into his little work shop and help out, i was just one of many that was fascinated by his concept,he probably wont remember me, but that's okey, i have fond memories of those times for sure, they were fun times. my grand children love the surfing scenes, so it must be in the Blood, please pass on my hello's to Nigel, such a long time ago, yet it seems like yesterday, so nice to say hello,