For immediate release
23rd September 2024
From: Surfing New Zealand
Sport: Junior Surfing
Events: 2024 Sticky Johnson Primary School Championships presented by Skullcandy and National Scholastic Surfing Championships
Dates: 28-29 September
Location: Gisborne, Midway Beach Gisborne
Event Info: Surfing New Zealand
Sticky Johnson Primary School Champs presented by Skullcandy returns to Gisborne
Over 80 frothing groms are to descend on Gisborne this weekend with the Sticky Johnson Primary School Champs presented by Skullcandy taking place over two days (28-29 September). The annual event which provides a stepping stone in to competitive surfing kicks off a massive few weeks of school aged surfing with the National Scholastic Secondary School Champs to be held in Dunedin a week after.
With the 2023 event providing some perfect waves in less-than-ideal weather the kiwi groms have been waiting in anticipation for the event to come around again hopefully this time with a bit of sunshine. Kicking off on Saturday, groms from the length of the country will be bringing their best form to the waves. This will be many participants first time competing at a national level, so a user-friendly round robin format is in place giving every participant three chances at having a go before the top ranked surfers face off in finals.
For others it will be a great chance to reconnect with mates they wouldn’t have seen since the last comp. Off the back of her win at the AIMS Games where surfing made its debut just last month, Jade Nias Phillips of Ahipara will be looking to take her newfound confidence to the Primary School Champs, taking on a stacked Year 7 & 8 division of girls hungry for the first win of the season .With previous event winner Alani Morse moving out of the age division a new winner will be crowned in 2024.
With Luca Thompson and Sol Fritchley moving up an age division and out of the event it will also be a chance for another grom to step in to the spotlight in the Boys year 7 & 8 division. Local grom Jaxon Pardoe will be hungry for a win after placing 3rd in 2023, however a division brimming with talent from across the motu will ensure it will be no easy feat to get to the podium.
With the event again being held in Gisborne, Midway Beach will be the primary venue. Gisborne Council have continued to be extremely accommodating despite the devastation that the east coast has again faced over the past year, and we look forward to bringing the frothing groms to Tairawhiti and contributing to local businesses. Should Midway Beach not provide safe fun conditions for the groms, additional coastal options will come into play.
The Sticky Johnson Primary School Championships presented by Skullcandy are the entry point for New Zealand’s youngest surfers that want to compete at a national level. The hugely popular event offers up an opportunity for first-time participants there to give it a go and have fun, the chance to experience what it is like to compete against their peers around Aotearoa. They learn, they enjoy themselves and they make new friends.
In 2023 it was Ffeon Clifford who took the top spot in the Boys Year 6 & Below. Unable to attend this years event a strong contingent of Gisborne groms led by Lenny Quinn, will be looking to use their local knowledge to secure finals berths. In the Girls Year 6 and Below a packed division of rising stars will make the most of the fun waves on offer. Dominant performers in 2023 Millie Dyck and Riley Miskell from Bay Boardriders are returning champions, hoping to take back-to-back wins this weekend.
The event also offers up the perfect platform for the savviest of young groms, some who were almost born on a surfboard and are seasoned campaigners the chance to battle it out against their closest rivals. Some of these young surfers are regularly participating in domestic events and some starting to venture overseas to face off against top Australian surfers.
Past event champions include New Zealand’s finest such as Olympian Ella Williams (WGM), New Zealand representative’s Ava Henderson (Chch) and Kehu Butler (Mnt).
The nation’s top club will also rewarded this year, with Bay Boardriders of Mount Maunganui being four-time defending champions.
Further Information
For further information on the 2024 Sticky Johnson Primary School Champs pres by Skullcandy please contact Surfing New Zealand’s Dan on 021 02672292 or email dan.westerkamp@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.
Partners
Generous support from Sticky Johnson and presenting sponsors Skullcandy, has made the Primary School Champs event possible along with Eastern and Central Community Trust. The event is proudly hosted by Gisborne Boardriders.
Surfing New Zealand is proudly partnered by:
Sport NZ
Sunbum
OSM
ACC
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