Day One Wrap: Secondary School Surfers Shine at the 2025 National Scholastic Surfing Championships
The 2025 National Scholastic Surfing Championships kicked off at Fitzroy Beach today with competitors overcoming a late start due to the tides and tricky early conditions. By mid-morning the incoming tide delivered fun, contestable waves that set the stage for an action-packed opening day.
Tairāwhiti’s Jaxon Pardoe set the tone for his team, opening the event with a strong first-place finish thanks to a 7.50 and 5.60 combination in the wobbly surf. Teammate Harry McFarlane secured second, while Levi Grubener of Northland placed third. First and second place earn direct tickets to the quarterfinals, while third and fourth move into the Round 1 Requalifier for another shot at progression. Local surfer London Cockerell impressed in front of the hometown crowd, advancing with a “quality over quantity” approach – riding just five waves but scoring a 5.60 and 4.70 to move on.
In the Under 14 Girls, Ella Rebolledo Withers thrived in the West Coast’s shifting conditions, sneaking crucial scores under her competitors from Wellington, Northland and Hawke’s Bay. “It was really challenging out there, I got stuck on the inside for a bit – it pulsed just as we paddled out – but I’m happy to get the waves I did,” she said after her heat. Wellington’s Abi Brough advanced in second. In Heat 2, Bella Biddle of the Coromandel set the pace with the division’s highest total of the day, a 9.60, alongside Hawke’s Bay’s Scarlett Gray, who posted an 8.33 to the delight of her teammates on the beach. Northland’s Sylvie Hall, Hawke’s Bay’s Lulu Woolcott and Charlotte Hallgarth, and Waikato’s Selva de la Cruz will regroup in the Requalifier round.
The incoming tide welcomed the longboarders to the lineup. Hawk Edwards of Northland dominated his heat, finding just four waves but converting two of them into big scores (7.33 and 5.40) to move straight into the semifinals. Taj Robinson of Auckland – the 2024 champion – once again looked sharp, taking his heat with a 10.16 total. Local hope Lee Takurua of Taranaki, Leo Scott of Coromandel and Manu Stowe of Southland will have another chance through Requalifier 1.
In the girls’ longboard heats, local surfer Izaro Williamson Sasia used her knowledge to perfection, winning with a 9.74 total. Northland’s Emma Lay followed in second, while Coromandel’s Georgia Walter finished third. Tairāwhiti’s Te Waiotu Fairle dominated the following heat, making light work of the afternoon’s challenging conditions, with Bay of Plenty’s Jayda Bramley advancing in second place.
The day wrapped up with the Under 16 Boys, who were rewarded for their patience as sunshine broke through the morning’s wind and rain. The division produced some of the most committed and powerful surfing of the day, with surfers attacking heavy sections and laying down big manoeuvres.
Competition continues tomorrow at Fitzroy with a likely 10.00am start, beginning with Round 1 of the Under 18 Boys. The 2025 Championships feature eight divisions across both shortboard and longboard, representing the pinnacle of secondary school surfing in New Zealand.
For more details on the 2025 National Scholastic Surfing Championships, please contact Dan Westerkamp at Surfing New Zealand on 021 0267 2292 or dan.westerkamp@surfingnz.co.nz.
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The 2025 National Scholastic Surfing Championships are sanctioned by Surfing New Zealand and Secondary School Sport NZ. The event is supported by the New Zealand Sports Collective, Whakaata Māori, Caltex, Bayleys, Apollo Projects and Nateva. Surfing New Zealand is proudly partnered by Sport NZ, Sun Bum and OSM.
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