Groms On The Rise: Sunny Ingram

From chilly Cornish mornings to the world’s biggest junior stages, Sunny Ingram is one of the UK’s most exciting young surfers right now.

Still in her teens and already repping England on the international circuit, Sunny’s mix of style, power and pure froth for surfing is so exciting to watch!

I caught up with her to talk competition, growing up as a grom in the UK surf scene and to see what she has planned for the future.

Sunny takes the win! credit unknown

Name: Sunny Ingram

Age: 16

Local Break: Porthtowan, Cornwall

Favourite Surfboard: Skindog hydroplane

Sponsors: O'niell, skindog surfboards, Huey’s surf wax, Byrd

Instagram: sunnybeeingram

How did you first fall in love with surfing?

I remember falling in love with surfing when I was 5 years old in Sri Lanka with my twin sister and

my dad pushing us both into waves.

Dad on the cam capturing those first moments of pure stoke!

Competitive surfing can be a rollercoaster, what have competitions taught you about yourself?

Competing has taught me so much about myself. It has shown me how competitive I am and how much I love it. It’s shown me how to take the loses and how those loses give me the fire to make myself want to win. I have to be mentally and physically strong and not let anyone get in my head.

How do you switch off the pressure during heats?

I have a ritual before my heats I like to get into my own space and memorise what I’m going to do on the waves and how I’m going to get the scores I need whilst listening to my music on my headphones.

Sunny a few years ago surfing at her local - credit Sarah Bunt

UK women’s surfing is so exciting to watch right now. When you’re surfing with friends, what does that bring out in your surfing?

I feel like surfing with my friends always make me have a better surf, as we are always laughing the whole time and surfing with people that are better then me always makes me want to do better.

What’s something you really love about the UK surf scene and community?

Cornwall is very special, people from all over the country want to surf our waves. If you go surfing by yourself you will always see someone you know in there.

Being a competitive surfer means showing up in all kinds of conditions. What helps you stay present when the waves aren’t perfect?

I try and surf most days in all types on conditions so when it's 1ft onshore, I know I have trained in them waves and it gives me more confidence.

If you weren’t surfing, what do you think you’d be obsessed with instead?

I really enjoy netball as I did it a lot in school and was winning a lot of tournaments. I couldn’t commit outside of school as surfing took over.

Sunny 2024 U16 Ripcurl Grom Search champ - Credit Unkown

What’s a goal you’re quietly working toward right now?

My goal for this year is making top 10 in the ISA world junior games!

What advice would you give to young girls and women who want to start surfing or competing?

To not stop and keep getting in, even in winter and to keep showing up because it will make a difference!

Thanks Sunny, we are so excited to see what 2026 has in store for you!

Follow Sunny's adventures here: sunnybeeingram