Barton Lynch's Video Contest For Groms Turns 20

From the Northern Beaches to the World

What started as a grassroots gathering on Sydney’s Northern Beaches is now a worldwide celebration of grom stoke. In 2024 alone, the Blast Off community pulled in 260 video submissions from 29 countries and engaged over 1.8 million surfers on Instagram.

Lynch’s goal has always been the same: build a space where kids are supported, not scored. “Blast Off isn’t about finding the next world champ,” Lynch says. “It’s about helping kids fall in love with surfing -- and themselves -- through the process.”

Over the years the Blast Off has not just uplifted kids, but it's seen a number of world champs power through the ranks. Alumni include Tyler Wright (2006 winner), Molly Picklum (2017 winner), Erin Brooks (2020), and Dane Henry, who just won the 2025 ISA World Surfing Games.

The 2025 Blast Off: 20 Years of Stoke

To celebrate two decades, this year’s BL Blast Off Video Challenge runs from November 1–30, 2025. Kids can submit one-minute clips showing their best surfing -- a single wave, a wild maneuver, or just pure fun. Any board, any style, any ocean counts.

Divisions are split into age groups (6, 8, 10, 12, and 14), with specialty awards for Best Tube, Best Air, Biggest Wave, People’s Choice, Best Edit, Worst Wipeout, and a brand-new category: Best Kickflipper, a nod to the groms blending surf, skate, and style.

Winners will be announced throughout the month, with overall champs revealed on a special 20th anniversary episode of Lynch’s podcast, "The Stoked Bloke Show."

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/EG9rnB_SUKA

Building the Future

The best part? Blast Off has never lost sight of what matters. For two decades, Lynch has built a culture that prioritizes mentorship and connection over competition -- a rare thing in surfing today.

“The stoke these kids bring reminds us why we surf,” Lynch says. “It’s about community, creativity, and keeping that fire alive for the next generation.”

That energy is what’s carried Blast Off from a beach in Sydney to screens around the world. Two decades in, it’s still growing, and still proving that the future of surfing looks pretty dang bright.