As the days begin to shorten and temperatures slowly begin to drop, surfers look to the 2022 Emerson’s South Island Surfing Championships. Held annually at St Clair Beach in Dunedin this dual-sanctioned Surfing New Zealand and South Island Surfing Association event attracts top surfers from all around the country. The four-day event (15-18 April) features 17 divisions ranging from Open Men and Women through to Under 14 Boys and Girls, Longboard and Seniors.
The South Island Championships have a proud tradition of taking on whatever southern conditions are on offer over the Easter holiday period. This weekend is no different with Dunedin looking to offer a bit of everything weather and waves wise. There looks to be a lingering one-to-two-meter southerly swell at St Clair Beach for most of the weekend with wind around the dial ranging from brisk north westerlies to light sea breezes, this should provide some great conditions over the four days of competition.
266 entries have been received for the four-day event with the vast majority coming from the South Island surfing community eager to contest the southern-most nationally sanctioned event. Groms in the New Zealand Junior Surfing Team will also be looking to make the most of the rest of the comp season with eight team members set to test themselves in the South Island before heading to El Salvador in May.
With the Absence of Saffi Vette (2021 Open Women’s winner) who has set off to chase the WSL Qualifying Series in Australia, the Open Women will see several top young females competing for the top position. After her second-place finish in the Open Women’s Division of the South Island Championships in 2021, Natasha Gouldsbury hopes to come out on top in 2022.
“I was stoked to take out the win last year in the under 18s, especially as I had a slow start to the season, but I am hoping to do one better in the Open Women’s this time round.”
“Starting off 2022 with a couple of solid results in the Billabong Grom Series and making the New Zealand Junior Surfing Team for El Salvador in May has given me a big confidence boost and I am really looking forward to heading south again for some good waves in cold water.”
In the Open Men’s Division, Daniel Farr will again make the trip down from his hometown of Taranaki. “I am looking forward to heading to Dunedin for the Emersons South Island Championships this year, it is always a great trip away with super fun waves in colder water.”
Reflecting on last year’s third place finish, he joked, “If I am being honest being beaten by the legendary old boy J-rod Hancox was a bit upsetting however it was a long time coming and well deserved.” However, this time around Farr is aiming for the top. Looking to continue his southern momentum gained from winning the Nationals at Westport in spectacular fashion, Daniel hopes to add the South Island Championships to his trophy cabinet. “But at the end of the day I am really looking forward to getting the rash shirt on again, it is just a bonus that I get to do it in one of my favourite spots in the country.
The Emersons South Island Championships starts on Friday the 15th of April with three days of competition before concluding with finals day on Monday the 18th.
Please see below for results from the 2021 Emerson’s South Island Surfing Championships held at St Clair Beach, Dunedin.
Open Men’s Division
Jarred Hancox (Tara), 1, Max Marshall (Chch), 2, Daniel Farr (Tara), 3, Reuben Woods (Mnt), 4
Open Women’s Division
Saffi Vette (Gis), 1, Natasha Gouldsbury (Tara), 2, Gabrielle Paul (Piha), 3, Estella Hungerford (Chch),4
Under 18 Girls Division
Natasha Gouldsbury (Tara), 1 Ariana Shewry (Tara), 2, Eloise Addison (Chch), 3, Lydia Hawes (WC), 4
Under 18 Boys Division
James Millar (Chch), 1, Jack Hinton (Mnt), 2, Luke Rogers (Dun), 3, Jake Owen (Dun), 4
Under 16 Boys Division
Tao Mouldey (Mnt), 1, Bailey Pearce (Chch), 2, Jack Tyro (Chch), 3, Beau Woods (Mnt), 4
Under 16 Girls Division
Ava Henderson (Chch), 1, Anna Brock (Mnt), 2, Sophia Brock (Mnt), 3, Eloise Addison (Chch), 4
Under 14 Boys Division
Tao Mouldey (Mnt), 1, Alexis Owen (Dun), 2, Benji Lowen (Chch), 3, Sonny Lyons (Kaik), 4
Under 14 Girls Division
Chloe Groube (Pau), 1, Rewa Morrison (Dun), 2, Poppie Entwisle (Chch), 3, Tessa Gabbott (Dun), 4
Men’s Longboard Division
Zen Wallis (Piha), 1, Nick Tuhikarema (Chch), 2, Henry Hawke (Chch), 3, Alan Te Moananui (Kaik), 4
Women’s Longboard Division
Gabrielle Paul (Piha), 1, Estella Hungerford (Chch), 2, Anna Hawes (WC), 3, Lucy Te Moananui (Kaik), 4
Information
For more information on the Emerson’s South Island Surfing Championships please contact Ben Kennings on 021 2278732 or email benkennings@surfingnz.co.nz.
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