There’s never been a better time to be a junior surfer. Teenagers years shy of learner’s permits are circumnavigating the globe on a sponsor’s dime. Photo spreads: Check. Six-figure deals: Yep. Chicks lined up to meet you: Oh yeah. As I mentioned, the world is ripe for the talented grom these days. But with the perks come a few responsibilities. Most notably, you have to blow up. And recently, at the Rip Curl Gromsearch in Huntington, that’s exactly what the best young prodigies did. Blow the hell up.

Held as an opportunity to qualify for the Rip Curl GromSearch National Final in Puerto Rico this fall, the cream of the crop did battle in the peaky 9th street waves. And although conditions weren’t quite worthy of the talent, the prodious ilk made the meager look sublime.

Of the numerous standouts, Colin Moran made the most of the less-than-stellar surf to steal the win in the esteemed boys’ 16 and under division. With the victory to his name, Moran has solidified a position for himselt at the Gromsearch National final in Puerto Rico later this year. To boot, Moran narrowly missed out on the win last year, a fact that’s left him hungry for redemption.

“I wanted it so bad going into that last final,” expressed an agitated but excited Colin Moran during the awards presentation at the Huntington Beach Rip Curl Surf Center. “I lost to Parker [Coffin] in the 14 [and under] with two good scores, so not winning that last final was not an option.”

Other standouts of the event included this every stylish Kaimana Jaquias, who’s fronstide reverse lit up the judges and crowd. Deftly tweaked, the whip earned Jaquias the respect from everyone on the beach and in the water as well as the H20 Overdrive Maneuver of the Event award.

For the full video of the event, check the clip below.

2010 Rip Curl Gromsearch Highlights from Jon Hechtkopf on Vimeo.