For immediate release
23/02/2023
From: Surfing New Zealand
Sport: Surfing
Event: 2023 Hurley New Zealand Boardrider Club Championships
Location: Whangamata
Date: 11-12th March
Hurley Boardrider Clubs Champs return to Whangamata
New Zealand’s top boardrider clubs will battle it out early this March to attain national bragging rights and a chance to represent New Zealand on the world stage.
The Hurley New Zealand Boardrider Club Championships presented by Volkswagen takes place at Whangamata Beach on the 11-12th March. A field comprising twelve boardrider clubs from around Aotearoa will battle it out across the two-day event.
The triumphant club will represent New Zealand at the Usher Cup World Club Challenge to be held on Australia’s Gold Coast in early 2024 where they will join upward of ten nations and swath of clubs from Australia.
The Hurley New Zealand Boardrider Club Championships presented by Volkswagen is a highlight of the domestic surfing calendar combining team surfing with individual results, bringing out the best in club comradery.
Raglan’s Point Boardriders will be out to defend their title after a much-celebrated win in 2022. The win saw them head to the Usher Cup, the first team to ever represent New Zealand at the event. The club placed 14th overall and Caleb Cutmore finished 7th in the Open Men’s Division as the top placed Kiwi.
Point Boardriders will roll out a powerful team this year with only the one change from 2022. National Champion Navryn Malone joins the team in place of Kora Cooper in the Under 18 Boys Division. Malone joins Caleb Cutmore and Taylor Hutchison in the Open Men’s Division, Brie Bennett in the Women’s Division and Larry Fisher in the Over 40 Men’s Division.
The ever-present Bay Boardriders from Mount Maunganui will be out to topple the top seeds with their team expected to be strong once named in the coming week. The proud club will be aiming for nothing less than the chance to represent New Zealand on the world stage.
2021 Champions Keyhole Boardriders have yet to name a team but will likely be back with a vengeance after their title defence was abruptly halted end last year. Oakura Boardriders will be representing the Taranaki region in 2023 with the club eager to improve on their fifth placing in 2022.
Northland will travel south with a youthful team while North Wai Boardriders out of Christchurch are the sole team attending from the South Island and they will again expect to make an impression.
Local Whangamata Boardriders Club placed in the final in 2022 and will be aiming for a repeat while the likes of Waihi and Papamoa Boardrider clubs will make the quick trip north to the event and make their presence felt.
The tag team format is the essence of the Hurley New Zealand Boardrider Club Championships presented by Volkswagen and involves all five surfers in the team going out and catching two waves in succession. A win in the tag team component of the event is worth 50% of the points up for grabs and ultimately decides the champion club.
Club teams comprise between five and ten surfers. The tag team event has five surfers taking part and clubs can opt to change out surfers for the individual heats if they choose. Divisions contested are Open Men’s and Women’s Divisions, Under 18s Division and Over 40s Division.
A full hospitality area will be set up at the beach courtesy of Hurley and Volkswagen where teams and spectators alike can hang out and enjoy the fun atmosphere. Clubs will bring their own tents, flags and support crew to make the most of the two days.
Further Information
For further information on the 2023 Hurley New Zealand Club 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 at the event will be available to media free of charge.
Event Hotline
Event details can be found on Liveheats.com/Surfing New Zealand This will be updated daily at approximately 7am with venue, divisions contested and conditions for the day.
Partners
Generous support from Hurley, Volkswagen, the New Zealand Sports Collective has made the event possible.
Surfing New Zealand is proudly partnered by:
Sport New Zealand
Water Safety NZ
Skinnies
Volkswagen
