As the 2023 National Surfing Championships head into the penultimate day of action, the surf is expected to be the best of the seven day event.
A 2.0m swell and light winds are forecast for the day providing an excellent platform for Aotearoa’s top Kiwis to show their talent.
The Open Men and Women’s Divisions are scheduled from 1:00pm on Friday with some intense matchups on the schedule in both divisions. The top seeds of the event have remained alive making for an intense quarternfinals round before the field is whittled away further in the semifinals to end the day.
Reigning champion Daniel Farr (Tara) will continue his push for a title defence in what most are calling the touoghest heat of the rouond when he faces off against 2020 National Champion and local Elliot Paerata – Reid, the in-form and previous finalist Tom Butland (Tara) and Whangarei’s Tom Robinson.
Eight time national champion Billy Stairmand (Rag) also has an imposing match up against Tim O’Connor (Mnt), Jay Piper – Healion (Whiti) and Tai Murphy (Whaka).
In the Women’s Division nine of the twelve remaining athletes are age group surfers with two additional surfers in the Open Women’s Division for their first year. 2022 NZ Surf Series winner Estella Hungerford takes on young Australian based surfer Tayla Green that has been in exceptional form. New Zealand rep Natasha Gouldsbury (Tara) faces off against youngest of finalists in Lola Groube (Pau), Anna Brock (Mnt) and Maya Mateja (Rag). In the final heat of the quarterfinals, Pia Rogers (WGM) and teammate Liv Haysom take on Chloe Groube (Pau) and Alani Morse (Rag).
Six finals were contested today with nine champions crowned. Amelie Wink (Chch) won the Under 18 Women’s Longboard, Billie Scott defended her title in the Women’s SUP Division and Sean Hovell (Gis) won the Men’s SUP Division. First time participant Thegn Ladefoged won the Over 60 Men’s Division. In the senior women’s divisions, titles went to Kiri Binnersley (Rag), Renee Ruddell (Whngrei), Stephanie Leece (40s), Carolyn Gundy (45s) and Margaurite Vujcich (60s).
The 2023 National Surfing Championships commences the domestic NZ Surf Series, NZ Grom Series and NZ Longboard Series with fifteen events scheduled around the country this summer.
Over 440 entries have been received for the event. It is the fifteenth time the event has been held on the West Coast of Auckland. A total of 29 divisions are contested at the event including the premier Open Men and Women plus additional divisions comprising of age groups from Under 14 boys and girls through to Over 60s for males and females and Longboard, Stand Up Paddleboard, Bodyboard, Kneeboard and adaptive disciplines. Action will take place from 8am – 5pm daily.
The event would not be possible without the support of the following partners: Sport NZ, Volkswagen, Skinnies, Better Beer and Arepa. The 2023 National Surfing Championships is proudly hosted by Keyhole Boardriders.
Daily schedules, live scores and results are available via www.liveheats.com/surfingnz.
Schedule of events (earliest possible day to commence divisions):
Wednesday 11th January – Above divisions plus longboard and SUP divisions
Thursday 12th January – Above divisions plus bodyboard
Friday 13th January – Above divisions plus kneeboard
Saturday 14th January – All divisions
Further Information
For further information on the 2023 National Surfing Championships please contact Surfing New Zealand’s Ben Kennings on 021 2278732 or email benkennings@surfingnz.co.nz.
Imagery
High resolution action images of the surfing will be available to media free of charge upon request.
Social Media
Keep up with all the action by following @surfingnz on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Use the hashtag #Nats2023 to follow the story.
Surfing New Zealand is proudly partnered by:
Sport NZ
Volkswagen
Skinnies
Arepa
Ends
