By Jake Howard
Week in and week out, it’s not always easy to find a worthy Grom of the Week candidate, but sometimes they just magically appear. After turning in the main surf column this week, I figured I’d paddle out for a lunchtime surf to reset and ruminate on who might be this week’s featured gremlin.
The waves were fun, and as I was changing in the parking lot afterward, the Walla clan buzzed by on their bikes. Loaded up and headed to the Trestles zone with their boards, dad John led the charge, with Zion and Eden not far behind.

The brother-sister duo just posted some solid results at the recent Western Surfing Association event, with Zion scoring his first win of the season in the Under 12 division and Eden taking top honors in the Under 16 division and second in the Under 14s.
But more than what they do in a jersey, the Walla siblings are natural water people. Whether they’ve got a rod in hand or a speargun, they’re also both incredible anglers capable of bringing home dinner and then some. And Eden’s becoming quite a skilled boat captain.
Best of all, with the Wallas, the vibes are always right and the stoke level is always up. It’s an incredible surf family in an incredible surf town.
If you have a candidate for Grom of the Week, we want to know. Send an email to jakehoward1@gmail.com.
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