For immediate release
16 March 2023
From: Surfing New Zealand
Sport: Surfing
Event: Rip Curl Pro Raglan
Dates: 18-19 March 2023
Divisions: Open Men’s and Open Women’s
Location: Manu Bay, Raglan
Websites: Surfing New Zealand and Rip Curl #RipCurlProRaglan
Swell on the way for 2023 Rip Curl Pro Raglan
This weekend marks a massive milestone for the Rip Curl Pro Raglan with the twenty third edition of event set to take place over Saturday and Sunday. The event has been the focal point of domestic surfing for over two decades with the perfect waves matched by a hefty pay day for the male and female winners.
The richest surfing event in New Zealand will take place on Saturday and Sunday (18-19 March) at Manu Bay, Raglan. New Zealand’s top surfers as well as two special guests are lining up for another crack at victory on the famous left hand point break.
Conditions are looking good for Saturday with solid 16-14s WSW swell and light but persistent WSW winds. Sunday will see consistent overhead sets from the 13s WSW swell. With light E winds, glassing off midday, a number of New Zealand’s top and up and coming surfers are looking forward to long pumping walls at one of the best left handers in Aotearoa.
The 2023 Rip Curl Pro Raglan kicks off with a special screening on Friday night at the Yot Club. Presented by Rip Curl and in partnership with Tracks the digitally remastered, iconic Search film ‘Searching for Tom Curren’ follows the 3x World Surfing Champion riding some of the best, newly discovered waves in the world. Rip Curl and Tom paired up and discovered new waves around the world, while capturing Curren surfing in his prime during the 1990’s. The film will be shown at the Yot club, corner of Bow street and Volcom Lane, Raglan.
Traditionally the Rip Curl Pro Raglan has played host to some of the biggest domestic showdowns in the history of the sport. This weekend will be no different with Dune Kennings (Piha) and Pia Rogers (Whangamata) looking to carry on their impressive start to the season after securing national titles at Piha in January.
Standing in their way will be a sold-out field of surfers ranging from the far north of New Zealand to the bottom of the south, all in line for the title of the Rip Curl Pro Raglan Open men and Open women’s champion.
A mighty contingent of Raglan locals and hometown favourites will be taking on the out of towners this year including 2021 Rip Curl Pro Raglan winner Taylor Hutchison, 2022 NZ Surf Series winner Caleb Cutmore, junior powerhouses, Kora Cooper, Navryn Malone, Tana Clapham and a number of local legends including Mikey and Xander Banks, Chris Malone, Larry Fisher, Luke Hughes and the Raglan Surf Reports Luke Cederman.
Dune Kennings of Piha will be making an appearance to defend his spot at the top of the leader board whilst, fellow Piha surfers Zen and Jai Wallis, Will Hardie and Jay Piper Healion look forward to competing again in Raglan.
A number of the top of surfers from the Bay of Plenty will also make a return to competition this weekend including Alex Dive, Tim O Connor, Callum Chuter and Mount super grom Tao Mouldey. Tom Butland, Jarrod Hancox, and Kalani Louis are just some of the many surfers making the trip over from Taranaki.
Unfortunately, several of our top Kiwi surfers will be absent from the event while competing on the WSL Australia / Oceania Qualifying Series including four-time champion Billy Stairmand, Kehu Butler (Mnt), Ricardo Christie (Gis) and Daniel Farr (Tara). Tom and Pat Curren will also feature in the event, sampling some of the best waves in New Zealand whilst on the Searching for Tom Curren movie tour.
Combined with the top surfers, a number of young up and comers have built the women’s field to one of the biggest in recent years with multiple surfers more than capable of challenging for the event win. Brie Bennett will be representing the Raglan women alongside Alani Morse, Maya Mateja, Kiri Binnersley and Lilly McDonald.
Olympic surfer Ella Williams of Whangamata will also make a return to competition whilst 17-year-old National women’s champ Pia Rogers of the same town will make the journey over. Ava Henderson (Chch) and Natasha Gouldsbury (Tara) will also be ones to watch at this years event. Saffi Vette and Paige Hareb will also be unable to attend due to international commitments.
The Rip Curl Pro Raglan is the third event of the New Zealand Surf Series with $8,000 prize money on offer. The series heads south after Raglan with events at Dunedin and Christchurch in the next month before returning to Raglan to conclude the season.
2023 New Zealand Surf Series Schedule
8-14 Jan – National Surfing Championships, Piha (SNZ3000)
TBC – Waveform Surfing NZ Open, Maukatia / Maori Bay (SNZ2000) – postponed
4-5 March – Seventhwave Women’s Canterbury Championships, Christchurch (SNZ1000)
18-19 March – Rip Curl Pro Raglan, Manu Bay, Raglan (SNZ3000)
7-10 April – Emerson’s South Island Championship, Dunedin (SNZ1000)
22-24 April – Exit Surf Men’s Canterbury Championships, Christchurch (SNZ2000
TBC – Backdoor King and Queen, Raglan (SNZ3000)
Please see below for event champions from the last thirteen years of the Rip Curl Pro pres by Corona.
Open Men’s Division
2023,
2022, Cancelled
2021, Taylor Hutchison (Rag)
2020, Cancelled
2019, Billy Stairmand (Rag)
2018, Billy Stairmand (Rag)
2017, Billy Stairmand (Rag)
2016, Maz Quinn (Gis)
2015, Maz Quinn (Gis)
2014, Ricardo Christie (Gis)
2013, Sean Peggs (Tai)
2012, Bobby Hansen (Gis)
2011, Billy Stairmand (Rag)
2010, Morehu Roberts (Rag)
Open Women’s Division
2023,
2022, Cancelled
2021, Paige Hareb (Tara)
2020, Cancelled
2019, Paige Hareb (Tara)
2018, Ella Williams (WGM)
2017, Ella Williams (WGM)
2016, Ella Williams (WGM)
2015, Ella Williams (WGM)
2014, Grace Spiers (WGM)
2013, Wini Paul (Sandy Bay)
2012, Jessica Santorik (Rag)
2011, Grace Spiers (WGM)
2010, Jessica Santorik (Rag)
Complete event write-ups, results, surfer ratings and images from the event can be viewed at Surfing New Zealand.
Information
For more information on the Rip Curl Pro Raglan please contact Ben Kennings on 021 2278732 or email benkennings@surfingnz.co.nz.
Imagery
Web clips and newsfeeds will be distributed free of charge from the event. Please contact Ben Kennings for further details.
High-resolution images will be available to media upon request. Images will be distributed free of charge.
Follow Surfing New Zealand
Keep in touch with all the surfing info from around the country by following Surfing New Zealand’s social media networks – @SurfingNZ. The event hashtag is #RipCurlProRaglan
Event Details
The draw and results can be viewed at www.Liveheats.com/SurfingNewZealand.
Sponsors
Generous support from Rip Curl and Surfing New Zealand has made this event possible.
Surfing New Zealand is proudly partnered by:
Sport NZ
Skinnies Sun Gel
Volkswagen
Arepa
Ends
