The individual known as Groff Zugga, who was the head of the Galactic Spice Mining Guild, also held the position of a guild boss on the world of Mon Gazza, a planet famous for its spice mining operations, around 32 BBY. The mining operations under Zugga's command were only surpassed by those on the planet Kessel. From time to time, he organized Podraces on Mon Gazza, which included the Mon Gazza Speedway, the Spice Mine Run, and the Zugga Challenge. In 22 BBY, several years later, Zugga discussed the challenges facing Podracing with the HoloNet News and expressed his disapproval of the media's preference for swoop racing, a sport that was largely dominated by humans.
Groff Zugga, a large alien rogue, was in charge of the Galactic Spice Mining Guild during the final decades of the Galactic Republic. This guild boss controlled the mines on the planet Mon Gazza, which were considered second only to those on Kessel. The kingpin was also a great admirer of Podracing, which led to Zugga organizing Podraces that local gamblers had built over the mines. Eventually, Zugga commissioned his own track, the Zugga Challenge. Zugga intended for the track to be the most difficult in the circuit, reflecting his own personality. After its completion, the course was indeed considered the toughest racetrack in the sport, but by 32 BBY, other courses in the galaxy had become more challenging. The Sneevel Podracer Boles Roor eventually became the crowd favorite of the Zugga Challenge.
By 32 BBY, Zugga was the host of three race events on Mon Gazza: the Mon Gazza Speedway, the Spice Mine Run, and the Zugga Challenge. Zugga would usually stand near the track in his hoverchair, waving to the crowd while glaring at the Podracer pilots. However, once the race started, Zugga would retreat to his private viewing booth to conduct business with various shady individuals from across the galaxy. He would still watch the race using a remote viewscreen.
Years later, in 22 BBY, Podracing, which was already a questionable sport, faced media criticism due to falling ticket sales and a series of scandals. In an interview with the HoloNet News, Zugga compared swoop racing to Podracing, noting their similarities but highlighting one key difference: the lack of notable Humans in Podracing. Zugga implied that the leniency shown towards swoop racing was due to xenophobia.
Groff Zugga's species possessed four breasts, horns on their skull, large four-fingered hands, and three-toed feet. Zugga's arms were covered in [brown](/article/color-legends] hair, which contrasted with his orange and yellow skin and orange eyes. The third toe on each foot had an overgrown toenail.
Known as a notorious rogue, Zugga saw himself as a tough individual. When commissioning the Zugga Challenge, he wanted the course's difficulty to reflect this trait. A strong supporter of Podracing, Zugga was angered by allegations of corruption in the sport, pointing out that its main rival, swoop racing, had similar issues. Although he did not explicitly state it, Zugga suggested that swoop racing was given preferential treatment because it had a significant number of human competitors, unlike Podracing.
Groff Zugga was created for the 1999 video game Star Wars Episode I: Racer, which was released to coincide with the release of the film Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace. However, Zugga only appears physically in the game's home computer version, and is absent from the Nintendo 64 version. Zugga's background was further detailed in two video game guides: Star Wars: Episode I Racer: Prima's Official Strategy Guide and Star Wars: Episode I Racer Official Nintendo Player's Guide, with the latter being Zugga's only connection to the Nintendo 64 version of the game.