For immediate release
12 June 2023
From: Surfing New Zealand
Sport: Surfing
Event: Backdoor King and Queen of the Point presented by Quiksilver
Dates: 17-18 June 2023
Divisions: Open Men and Women
Location: Manu Bay, Raglan
Websites: Surfing New Zealand and Backdoor Surf Shop
King and Queen of the Point rounds out 2023 season
Top tier domestic surfing returns to Raglan with the Backdoor King and Queen of the Point presented by Quiksilver taking place this weekend (17-18 June).
A Talent laden field of surfers will make for an exciting weekend at Manu Bay with runner up of the 2022 event Caleb Cutmore taking to the point again in the hopes of being crowned King of the Point. Billy Stairmand, King of the point in 2022 will not be competing due to international commitments meaning a new winner will be crowned in 2023. Despite the absence of Stairmand a stacked draw of male surfers stand In Cutmores way with top senior and junior surfers coming from all over the country.
Raglan favourites, Luke Cederman and Kora Cooper who placed 3rd and 4th respectively in the 2022 edition of the event will also make a return at their home break alongside Taylor Hutchison who currently leads the SNZ Surf Series Ratings. Tom Robinson, Navryn Malone, Tana Clapham, Luke Hughes and Luke Dymond will also make an appearance representing the Raglan community.
From further afield Jarred Hancox of Taranaki hopes to build on his momentum gained from his excellent run in the South Island series of events looking to overtake Hutchison at the top of the leaderboard. Tom Butland and Corban Grainger will also make the journey from Taranaki whilst Connor Mclennan and Tyler Perry Travel from the South Island.
A horde of young grommets will also be in attendance looking to take down big names and gain experience competing at the highest level. Groms to watch include Tao Mouldey (Mount) Jai Wallis (Piha), Tava Santorik, Indi Chave (Whng), Theo Morse (Rag), Tyler Stenzel (Mount), Nate Florence and Soren Bucka-Christensen of Taranaki.
2023 has seen four events held across the motu including the National Surfing Championships at Piha in early January, the Rip Curl Pro Raglan SNZ 3000, Te Kaika South Island Champs SNZ 2000, and most recently the Men’s Canterbury Champs SNZ2000. The Backdoor King and Queen of the Point pres by Quiksilver is the final comp of the 2023 season.
In the Open Women’s Division, top Kiwi females including defending champion Ella Williams Paige Hareb (Tara) and Gisborne’s Saffi Vette are unable to compete due to injury and other commitments opening up the chance for fresh female talent to rise to the occasion. Ava Henderson, Leia Millar (Piha) Natasha Gouldsbury (Tara), Pia Rogers (WGM) Elin Tawharu (Mnt), Zhana Hutchieson (Tara) and Lola and Chloe Groube will all be looking to make it to the top of the 24 surfer draw to be crowned Queen of the point in 2023. Local surfer Brie Bennett will be looking to do one better after her second-place finish in 2022.
The MR Twin Fin Expression Session also returns to the event, a tribute to the man who revolutionised the surfing world. Between 1978 and 1982 Australian Mark Richards decided two fins were better than one designing testing and taking his two-fin design to the world stage where he then claimed four consecutive World Titles, changing the surfing world for ever.
With long winding lefts and a stacked field of competitors hungry for a win, the King and Queen of the Point pres by Backdoor and Quiksilver could be a weekend of big upsets in which we will see two new Champions crowned. Long range forecasts show a W swell at 10s in the metre plus range from a Tasman Low. Both days will see an easterly wind blowing across the points. One thing is for certain, this weekend promises to end the 2023 Surf Series with a bang.
The Backdoor King and Queen of the Point pres by Quiksilver is an SNZ3000 event and boasts $15,000 in prize money as the richest event of the year and with maximum national ranking points on offer.
Please see below for previous winners of the event.
Open Men’s Division
2023
2022 Billy Stairmand (Rag)
2021 Cancelled
2020 – Billy Stairmand (Rag)
2019 – Luke Cederman (Rag)
2018 – Luke Cederman (Rag)
Open Women’s Division
2023
2022 Ella Williams (WGM)
2021 Cancelled
2020 – Paige Hareb (Tara)
2019 – Kai Woolf (Rag)
2018 – Aimee Brown (Grt Barrier)
Information
For more information on the Backdoor King and Queen of the Point presented by Quiksilver, please contact Ben Kennings on 021 2278732 or email benkennings@surfingnz.co.nz.
Partners
Generous support from Backdoor Surf Shop, Quiksilver, Channel Island Surfboards and Sticky Johnson have made the event possible. The event is hosted by Raglan’s Point Boardriders.
Imagery
High resolution images will be available to media upon request. Images will be distributed free of charge.
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