ROOKIE RIPPERS IS BACK!
18 - 21 September
Event Info
Together with O'Neill, the legendary surf coach Phillipe Malvaux is on the lookout for Europe's most promising surf talent. He'll be handpicking 16 junior surfers to join forces with pros Yolanda Hopkins and Eli Beukes for an unforgettable weekend of high-performance surfing, expert coaching and fun team challenges. At the end of the weekend, two standout surfers will rise to the top - earning a spot on Team O'Neill.
We're calling all junior surfers from all over Europe (and the UK) between the ages of 12 and 16. Get your best surf clips together and show us what you've got!
All entries will be reviewed, and the best clips will advance to the final round. That's where Phillipe, Yolanda and Eli will select 16 lucky winners of the social media competition. They will be invited to the Lost Shore wavepool, to level up their skills and push their surfing to the next level!
The 16 surfers will be mentored and guided by the Team O'Neill athletes and world-class coaches. This year, the Team Captains will be Olympian Yolanda Hopkins and South Africa's rising talent Eli Beukes, backed by former Rookie Rippers winners Kamiel Deraeve and Imari Hearn. Once again, Philippe Malvaux will be the head surf coach during the weekend, focusing on improving each surfer's technique and performance.
Only one team will be crowned as The Rookie Rippers champions, and two standout surfers will earn a year-long sponsorship, officially joining Team O'Neill!
Don't miss your chance!
TEAM CAPTAINS & COACHES
ROOKIE RIPPERS WEEKEND DETAILS
WHEN
18 - 21 September 2025
WHERE
Lost Shore Surf Resort, Edinburgh
O'NEILL WILL PROVIDE
– Pro coaching and immediate feedback;
– Access to Europe's newest and most advanced wave park and all its settings;
– Biometric camera tracking to improve surf technique;
– Luxury Hilltop Lodges and Accommodation overlooking Lost Shore;
– Team O'Neill Athletes;
– Professional coaches;
– All day menu showcasing the best in Scotland's independent food and drink scene;
– Personalised competition jersey;
– Event crew and staff;
– Judges;
– Airport transfer*;
– Prizes and goodies;
– and much more!
*The 16 winners must arrange their own flights/travel to and from Edinburgh airport; we will arrange the Airport Transfers to the wavepool.
HOW TO ENTER
1. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok.
2. Upload ONE surf video and tag @oneilleurope (Instagram) or @oneillofficial (TikTok).
3. Use the hashtag #RookieRippers.
4. You can only upload once — but your clip can include up to three waves. Remember: quality over quantity.
5. Make sure to complete the entry form below!
*If you don’t fill out this form, your entry will not be included in the judging rounds.
MAKE SURE YOU SUBMIT YOUR VIDEOS BEFORE THE 11TH OF AUGUST 2025
ENTER NOW
Rookie Rippers
LAST YEAR'S ROOKIE RIPPERS
16 of the best Groms from across Europe joined O'Neill Rookie Rippers last October at The Wave in Bristol, UK.
A unique, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be mentored by some of the best athletes in the world and take on challenges designed by world-class surf coaches, Philippe Malvaux and Ben Skinner.
Out of the water, the Groms received video analysis of their sessions, mindset coaching, and plenty of Q&A time with the Pros.
It was an unforgettable few days where dreams were made for a group of young surfers. We witnessed some heated battles between Team Jordy Smith & Laura Crane, and Team Johanne Defay & Ben Larg, But in the end, there could only be one winner....
Go check out the full recap!
CELEBRATING THE RIPPERS WHO JOINED TEAM O’NEILL
Rookie Rippers portraits
Get to know the Rookies who joined Team O'Neill!
We handed our previous winners a camera-and a platform to tell their stories. What does life look like as they juggle school, friends, and professional surfing? Check out all the video's here: