Brothers ride new wave of grommets

Yaroomba brothers Jesse, 7, and Jye Parkinson, 9, have been turning heads at breaks along the Sunshine Coast , earning themselves five sponsors each. Picture: Megan Slade Source: The Courier-Mail

TO make it big in surfing you have to start small.

Sunshine Coast brothers Jesse and Jye Parkinson, aged 7 and 9, are leading a new wave of fearless mini-surfers, dubbed "micro grommets".

Traditionally the youngest competitors were under-15s, known as grommets. More recently it has been under-13s. But now there are a growing number of events around the country that showcase the talents of those aged as young as seven.

The potential of the Parkinson brothers, from Yaroomba, has not escaped the eyes of the corporate world and they already have five sponsors each.

However, parents Dean and Julie are weighing the interest carefully.

"We knocked a couple of larger companies back and took the ones that we thought would be more appropriate for the boys," Mr Parkinson said. "It's just about having fun at this age."

Jesse Parkinson , 7, surfs the swell at Noosa. Picture: Megan Slade

Mr Parkinson said younger surfers were taking the sport to new heights.

"You look at Kelly Slater when he was 15. He was surfing fantastic, but if you look at kids now, wow, they are doing aerials by that age," he said.

Jesse is clearly enjoying the opportunities coming his way.

"It's just cool because I am the youngest to be sponsored by Quiksilver. I get to hang out with Tommy Carroll," he said.

The boys are heading to Indonesia with their dad next month to surf reef breaks for the first time with a boat load of slightly older grommets.

Jesse is hoping to get some barrels.

"It's good when the water curls over you. It also keeps the sun out of your eyes," he said.

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