For immediate release
Date: 7th June 2023
From: Surfing New Zealand
Sport: International Surfing
Event: 2023 ISA World Surfing Games
Divisions: Open Men, Open Women
Date: May 30 to June 7
Location: Surf City, El Salvador
Websites: www.isasurf.org and www.surfingnz.co.nz
New Zealand’s World Surf Games Campaign comes to an End
Kiwi surfer Billy Stairmand has had a big final day of competition after an outstanding run at the 2023 ISA World Surfing Games in Surf City, El Salvador.
His exit out of the games comes after yesterday’s news (Tuesday 6th June) that both Billy Stairmand and Saffi Vette provisionally qualified for Paris 2024, securing the Oceania continental spots on up for grabs at the 2023 ISA World Surfing Games being held in El Salvador.
Billy surfed his round 5 heat early Wednesday morning against Jordy Smith, Cody Young (CAN) and Alan Cleland (MEX). Putting a 6-point ride on the board early, he looked to be in contention with a 5.87 backup. It was Alan Cleland of Mexico however with a late run of sixes and sevens that leap frogged him into the lead above Jordy Smith who after a slow start put an 8.17 on the board..
Cody Young of Canada got off to a great start with a 7.83 on his first wave and with a 4.87 as a backup he pushed Stairmand down into fourth. Unfortunately, Billy was unable to find any waves with scoring potential and so was relegated to the repechage round in what was a tough heat.
Up again in Mens Repechage 8 Billy surfed against Kauili Vaast (Fra), Gonzalo Gutierrez (ESP) and Rio Waida (IND). It was a quality over quantity affair for the men with eventual winner Kauili vast only surfing two waves scoring a 9.43 and a 7.50 totalling 16.93 in an incredible display of skill and patience in the conditions on offer.
It was Spanish surfer Gonzalo Gutierrez who placed second to Vaast riding only three waves scoring a 6.0 a 6.5 and a 3.9. Rio Waida of Indonesia was in contention till the very end with a 6.27 as his first wave and a .5 as a backup, needing just a 6.27 to advance the waves did not come his way and he bowed out of competition alongside New Zealand’s Billy Stairmand who struggled to find waves with scoring potential, with just a 4.10 and a .93 as backup putting him in 4th place.
New Zealand currently sits 13th at the event which is led by front runners France, Peru and Australia who fill the top three positions. New Zealand placed 22nd in 2022 at the ISA World Surfing Games in Huntington Beach, USA.
Overall results
Team 13th
Men
Billy Stairmand 16th
Kehu Butler 37th
Dune Kennings 61st
Women
Saffi Vette 22nd
Paige Hareb 25th
Pia Rogers 55th
The ISA World Surfing Games are taking place from the 30 May – 7 June with 297 athletes from a record breaking 63 countries in attendance.
Live action from finals day can be viewed via the link below.
Action takes place from approx. 2:00am NZ time each morning. – https://isasurf.org/event/2023-surf-city-el-salvador-isa-world-surfing-games/
For further information regarding the New Zealand Surfing Team please contact Ben Kennings at Surfing New Zealand 0212278732 or email benkennings@surfingnz.co.nz.
Surfing New Zealand are proudly partnered by:
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Ends
