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!
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!
TEAM CAPTAINS & COACHES
LAST YEAR'S ROOKIE RIPPERS
That’s a wrap on Rookie Rippers 2025!
Congratulations to Cheyenne Patino Ubeda and Achille Clerc—the final winners from Philippe Malvaux’s top 17 European squad.
Competition machine Yolanda Hopkins and free surf legend Eli Beukes teamed up with last year’s winners, Kamiel Dereave and Imari Hearn, to captain their teams. It was an action-packed performance weekend, and the groms were up to their usual antics in and out of the water.
High-performance team challenges, Spin-the-Wheel, Surf Bingo, and video analysis all brought the energy, all while soaking up the best of Scottish culture.
A huge thank you to all the parents and rippers who got involved—it was one for the books.
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: