For immediate release 
From: Surfing New Zealand
Sport: Domestic Surfing
Event: 2024 Aotearoa Surf Pro
Divisions: Open Men’s and Women’s Divisions
Date: 6-7 April
Location: Te Arai Beach, Auckland, New Zealand
Websites and Social: Surfing New Zealand and Aotearoa Surf
Te Arai Beach to host top surfers this weekend.
Auckland’s East Coast will be in the limelight as it plays host to the second event of the NZ Surf Series this weekend with the Aotearoa Surf Pro coming to North Auckland’s most popular surf beach. The event sees the first ever top-level domestic surfing to be held at Te Arai Beach on the east coast of Auckland.
The Aotearoa Surf Pro to be held on the 6-7 April will see over $5000 in prize money and amazing prizes and give aways up for grabs. An SNZ2000 rated event, it has attracted the best surfers from all over the country as well as a handful of local talent keen to give the event a crack in home waters. The Aotearoa Surf Pro is supported by Aotearoa Surf School, a local surf school in Te Arai.
International superstar Billy Stairmand will be using the event as a light warmup before he heads to Tahiti in search of Olympic glory. Caleb Cutmore fresh of his WSL QS campaign will also be in attendance as will 2024 National Champion Daniel Farr looking to sample the fun waves of the east coast, far away from his home waters of Taranaki. Other top tier surfers to make an appearance will include Taylor Hutchison (Rag), Jarrod Hancox (Tara), Spencer Rowson (Tara), and Tom Robinson (Whngrei).
As predicted a strong Northland based contingent has appeared including James Ford, Cooper Ashil, and Moretti brothers Ben and Paul. “I am looking forward to pulling on the rashie and competing in some familiar waters, it should be a super fun event with heaps going on, I can’t wait!” Says Ben Moretti on his return to competition after ongoing injuries.
Local surfers will be a feature of the event as they pit themselves against Aotearoa’s best with the likes of Rian Boyd, Thomas Kibblewhite and Jackson Peak making a return to top level competition.
To encourage first time participation, Aotearoa Surf offered up a wildcard position to the event which was given to Andrew ‘Pando’ Robinson. A Devonport School Teacher, Pando took out the Auckland Champs senior division last year and has now taken up the opportunity to surf against the best in the country.
The Open Women’s Division is guaranteed to be a crowd pleaser with Leia Millar (Piha), Alani Morse and Brie Bennett of Raglan, Liv Haysom (Piha) and Aimee Brown (Gt Barrier) all in attendance. Indi-lee Ruddell (Whngrei), Elin Tawharu (Mnt) and ex northlander Billie Scott, will also be vying for a share of the ranking points and prize money.
The Aotearoa Surf Pro is largely spectator oriented and will include DJs, food trucks, giveaways and an after party from 7pm with Live Music at Wood Street Pizzeria in Mangawhai, DJ Balangi x L.E.A.V.E.R.S (leavers) this is Brought to you by Aotearoa Surf School & Pacific Coast Brewery
The event brings together surfing, athletes, enthusiasts and spectators to experience a new dynamic surf comp that is spectator focused, embracing entertainment, food and festival vibes!
If you love food then this is the surf comp for you with a multitude of options available to try during the weekend. Some of these include Truck Yeah Food truck, The Little Kiwi Coffee Cart, The Smoldering Hog – Breakfasts, Slow cooked smoked meats, nachos and more + drinks, RISE & GRIND – Local Mangawhai Coffee, The Strawberry Lady – Real fruit Ice creams and Waffles, and Ana from Ana Massage. Aotearoa Surf Shop will also be available for all your surfing needs.
The schedule will include top level surfing from 8am-5pm Saturday and Sunday with a FREE Yoga session with Franchesca from Wild Wellness on Saturday at 10am. There will also be free surf lessons on Saturday with Aotearoa Surf School for anyone –adults, kids, get in on this from 1:30pm.
Just over an hour North of Auckland CBD Te Arai Beach is an iconic beach break situated to the south of Mangawhai Heads. With peaks up and down the beach, often heavy barrels and a right hander off the point when the sand is right, Te Arai is one of the premier breaks of the Auckland region.
More About Aotearoa Surf
Aotearoa Surf is a surf shop, surf lesson and accommodation provider in Te Arai, established in 2003. They offer safe and fun surfing lessons for all ages & abilities at Mangawhai – Te Arai, plus wetsuits, surfboards, SUP boards and more for hire.
They have a range of services to suit all ages and experience levels with everything from locally based kids camps, after school programs and holiday programs to overseas surf retreats for adults. They are also the preferred choice for large organisations and corporate events.
Experience their outstanding 5-Star Qualmark certified accommodation options. Take the time to reconnect with yourself, your partner or your family in their eco pods or experience their glamping experience in their amazing range of teepees.
Aotearoa Surf are located at 11 Te Arai Point Rd, Te Arai Auckland
More about the Aotearoa Surf Pro and NZ Surf Series
The Aotearoa Surf Pro is an SNZ2000 event and part of the wider New Zealand Surf Series which includes the following events:
7 – 13 January, National Surfing Championships, Dunedin- St Clair
2-3 March – New Zealand Women’s Surf Festival pres by Sun Bum and VW, Pauanui
29 March – 1 April – Te Kaika South Island Surfing Championships, Dunedin
6-7 April – Aotearoa Surf Pro, Te Arai Beach, Auckland
13-14 April – Benchmark Homes Women’s Canterbury Champs, Sumner, Christchurch
26-28 April – Exit Surf Men’s Canterbury Championships, Christchurch
24-26 May – Backdoor King and Queen of the Point pres by Quiksilver
For the Facebook event page Click Here
Accommodation at Aotearoa Surf for the weekend is available Click Here
The Aotearoa Surf Pro would not be possible without the support of Aotearoa Surf, Surfing New Zealand, Volkswagen, Sun Bum, Sticky Johnson, Shapers, Vissla, Pyzel
Further Information
For further information on the 2024 Aotearoa Surf Pro 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 will be available to media free of charge.
Event details
Please visit Liveheats.com for live scores https://liveheats.com/events/44498
Follow the event
Follow the action via social media @surfingnz across Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and X.
Surfing New Zealand is proudly partnered by:
Sport NZ
Sun Bum
Volkswagen
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