4/10/2025
Bay of Plenty Crowned Champions at the 2025 National Scholastic Surfing Championships in Taranaki
Just over 100 of New Zealand’s top secondary school surfers converged on Taranaki from 29 September – 3 October for the 2025 National Scholastic Surfing Championships, presented by Pub Charity. Across five days of competition, athletes battled rugged weather, shifting swells, and the pressures of elimination to showcase the best of New Zealand’s young surfing talent. The opening three days unfolded at Fitzroy Beach, where competitors faced solid onshore surf, strong winds, rain, and brief glimpses of sunshine. Rounds 1, 2, and the requalification heats were run in the rugged conditions, setting the tone for a demanding week. Despite the weather, surfers displayed resilience and adaptability, with heat strategy and wave selection proving critical.
By Thursday, the event shifted to Stent Road, one of Taranaki’s premier breaks, for the quarter-finals and semi-finals. The higher quality surf gave athletes the chance to lift their performance, with dramatic matchups setting the stage for Friday’s finals, which were streamed live nationwide on Māori+. Finals day dawned calm and misty, with a clean 2–3 ft swell and glassy conditions. As the tide filled in, the swell slowed, adding pressure where heat strategy and wave priority became decisive. The finals produced drama across all divisions, with titles decided by slim margins, tie-breakers, and last-minute rides.
In the Under 14 Boys final it was Gisborne’s Jaxon Pardoe who took a tie-breaker win over Taranaki’s Koa Gillespie, the same venue where Pardoe claimed a national title earlier this year. Bay of Plenty surfers Haru Marsden and Beau Broadhurst finished third and fourth. In the Under 14 Girls division, Auckland’s Ella Rebolledo-Withers claimed the crown with a 12.17 heat total, her two best waves of 5.50 and 6.67 enough to hold off Waikato’s Selva Petzold de la Cruz in second, Hawke’s Bay’s Scarlett Gray in third, and Coromandel’s Bella Biddle in fourth after an impressive first-ever final.
With regional pride on the line, the Under 16 surfers stepped up and delivered in epic fashion. In the Boys final, Bay of Plenty’s Sol Fritchley came out firing to take the gold and lock in crucial points for his team. Auckland’s Zeke Pragert and Jesse Frazerhurst finished second and third, while Bay of Plenty’s Zen Mouldey rounded out the top four. In the Girls final, Auckland’s Poppy Arkle brought style and composure to secure the championship title, edging Coromandel’s Lola Groube into second. Northland’s Indi-Lee Ruddell placed third and Waikato’s Alani Morse claimed fourth in a high-quality final that highlighted the depth of talent in this division.
The Under 18 Girls competition was one of the closest of the event. Bay of Plentys Ariana Walker took the gold medal whilst Waikato’s Ayla Gee edged teammate Lani Frazerhurst by just 0.36 in the semi-final before continuing her momentum into the final for a second place finish. In the Under 18 Boys, Auckland’s Sev Tolhurst dominated his semi-final alongside teammate Christian Fougere, while Bay of Plenty’s Zade Pitkethly and Waikato’s Jacob Haines also advanced. In the final, Tolhurst caught eight waves and posted the highest single-wave score of the heat, to take the win, Haines’ consistency with a 6.40 and 6.50 earned him the silver medal. Pitkethly finished third and Fougere fourth in what was one of the most talent-stacked heats of the championships.
The longboard divisions brought elegance and flow to Stent Road. Northland’s Emma Lay surfed with grace and composure to take out the Girls Longboard title ahead of Gisborne’s Te Waiotu Fairlie in second, Taranaki’s Izaro Williamson Sasia in third, and Bay of Plenty’s Jayda Bramley in fourth. In the Boys Longboard, Bay of Plenty’s Jaxon Willows delivered style and finesse to secure the win, a result that proved pivotal for his team’s overall shield victory. Auckland’s Taj Robinson placed second, Bay of Plenty’s Charlie Hartstone third, and Northland’s Hawk Edwards fourth.
After five days of high-intensity surfing, it was Bay of Plenty who rose above the field to secure their 12th National Scholastic Shield, edging out Auckland and Waikato. Hosts Taranaki placed fourth, with Northland fifth and Gisborne sixth. Bay of Plenty coach Jason Pitkeathly praised his squad, saying, “So stoked to lead this bunch of legends to Bay of Plenty’s 12th scholastic shield. It was truly a team effort where everyone played a massive role. Eyes are already on the build-up for 2026.”
Special awards capped off the week. The Adam Clegg Most Improved Surfer Award went to Taranaki’s Koa Gillespie and Waikato’s Ayla Gee. The Bayleys #AltogetherBetter Award was presented to Team Auckland for their spirit, resilience, and never-give-up attitude, while the Caltex Good Sport Award went to Paul Biddle of Coromandel for his dedication, positivity, and famously, his burger-making skills.
The 2025 National Scholastic Surfing Championships were made possible with the support of Pub Charity, Surfing New Zealand, Secondary School Sport NZ, Surfing Taranaki, New Plymouth Surfriders, Māori+, Caltex, Bayleys, Apollo Projects, Nateva, and Local Gecko, with on-screen hosts Chris Luke and Gavin Bisman bringing the event to life for the live stream audience. A replay of the final day can be viewed on the Māori+ YouTube channel, while full results and team points are available via LiveHeats.
The National Scholastic Championships continue to serve as a key stepping stone for New Zealand’s next generation of surfers, providing a platform to compete at the highest level while representing their regions with pride. This year’s edition once again showcased determination, teamwork, and the bright future of New Zealand surfing.
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.
High-resolution action images are available free to media on request.
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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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