Longboard surfers Jack Tyro (Christchurch) and Hannah Kohn (Gisborne) led the way with titles on Day 3 of the 2025 National Surfing Championships presented by Toi Foundation, the two surfers among 16 new title holders for the day.
Day three of the event took place at Back Beach, New Plymouth in clean 1.0m waves and pristine morning conditions, the increase in swell a welcome sight to all those hitting the water.
Tyro was dominant all day defending his national title in the Men’s Longboard Division and securing his third overall (2022, 2023).
Tyro defeated fellow national representative Matt Newdick in the final, Newdick placing second ahead of Thomas Kibblewhite (Orewa) and Zen Wallis (Piha) in third and fourth respectively.
Kohn held a strong position throughout the Women’s Longboard final and capped off her performance with a 6.67 point ride on her last wave to seal the victory. It is the first time Kohn has entered the Nationals in over ten years despite being one of the country’s top longboard surfers.
Kohn defeated Gabi Paul (Piha) in the final with Tenaya Richardson (Tara) finishing in third place and Juniper Harper (Aus) finishing in fourth.
Titles in the Senior Men’s Divisions went to Tairua’s Sean Peggs (Over 30s), double finalist Thomas Kibblewhite (Over 40s), Dunedin’s Lyndon Fairbairn who defended his Over 50s title as did Raglan’s Geoff Hutchison in the Over 60s. Tony Ogilvy (Whakatane) won the Over 70 Men’s Division, his third ever title at the event, the last coming in 2001.
In the Senior Women’s Divisions, Thandi Tipene (Tara) showed her talent in the Over 30 Women’s Division to take a title as did fellow local surfers Jo Moore and Amaia Sasia in the Over 40s and 50s respectively.
Title holders across the Over 40, 50 and 60 Divisions secured selection to represent New Zealand at the ISA World Masters Championships which are scheduled to take place later this year.
Karlos Aarsen (Whangamata) surfed to his first national title in the Men’s Stand Up Paddleboard defeating Jamie Andrews (Tara), Gavin Horton (Tara) and Curtis Nu’u (Whakatane). Stella Smith (Gis) won a two-way battle in the Women’s Stand Up Paddleboard after posting an 11.07 point heat total over Billie Scott’s 9.50.
Taj Robinson (Mangawhai) won the Under 18 Boys Longboard Division while Demi Roberts took out the girls.
Bodyboarding titles went to Gavin Horton (Tara) and Gisiele Summerton (Dun).
Day four of the event will be contested down the coast at Stent Road with the Under 16 and 18 Boys and Girls Divisions entering the water for the first time. The swell is expected to remain around the 1.0m mark with offshore winds in the morning and light afternoon sea breezes.
Over 30 Men – Sean Peggs (Tairua)
Over 40 Men – Thomas Kibblewhite (Orewa)
Over 50 Men – Lyndon Fairbairn (Dunedin)
Over 60 Men – Geoff Hutchison (Raglan)
Over 70 Men – Tony Ogilvy (Whakatane)
Over 30 Women – Thandi Tipene (Taranaki)
Over 40 Women – Jo Moore (Taranaki)
Over 50 Women – Amaia Sasia (Taranaki)
Women’s SUP – Stella Smith (Gisborne)
Men’s SUP – Karlos Aarsen (Whangamata)
Men’s Bodyboard – Gavin Horton (Taranaki)
Women’s Bodyboard – Gisiele Summerton (Dunedin)
Under 18 Boys Longboard – Taj Robinson
Under 18 Girls Longboard – Demi Roberts (Mount)
Men’s Longboard – Jack Tyro (Christchurch)
Women’s Longboard – Hannah Kohn (Gisborne)
The sixty second edition of the New Zealand National Surfing Championships has attracted a 400 plus field of participants for the mobile event along the Taranaki coastline.
It is the tenth time the event has been held in Taranaki the most recent being in 2019.
A total of 29 divisions are contested at the event including the premier Open Men and Women which commence on Thursday. Additional divisions include age groups from Under 14 boys and girls through to Over 70s for males and females and Longboard, Stand Up Paddleboard, Bodyboard, Kneeboard and adaptive disciplines.
Action takes place from 8am – 5pm daily. The daily schedule is posted the night prior on www.liveheats.com/surfingnz. The daily location will be confirmed once conditions are assessed at dawn each morning.
The event would not be possible without the support of the Toi Foundation. The 2025 National Surfing Championships is proudly hosted by New Plymouth Surfriders.
The 2025 National Surfing Championships commences both the domestic NZ Surf Series, NZ Grom Series and NZ Longboard Series with events scheduled around the country this summer.
Further Information
For further information on the 2025 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 #Nats2025 to follow the story.
Surfing New Zealand is proudly partnered by:
Sport NZ
ACC
Sun Bum
Cookie Time/OSM
Ends
