Latest news with #SurfingNewZealand
NZ Herald
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- NZ Herald
NZ's top groms set to rip in Gisborne Junior Pro surfing contest
However, Kennings said with safety at the forefront of Surfing New Zealand events, participants should be ready to travel to a more sheltered option. If that is the case, organisers still expect another successful contest with a unique flavour. 'What sets the Gisborne Junior Pro apart is its combination of grassroots community energy and professional level competition,' Kennings said. 'With local pride on the line and national rankings up for grabs, competitors will be throwing everything they've got at the judging criteria. 'And with the return of the Biggest Manoeuvre Award, the stakes are even higher for those who want to push the envelope.' The category will award $100 cash to one standout surfer from each division who goes big – whether that's a massive air, critical turn or radical combo. 'It's not just about playing it safe,' says Sequence Surf Shop owner and 2003 men's open national champion Blair Stewart. 'We want to see who's really willing to push their surfing to the next level.' The Gisborne Junior Pro will also support the next generation of local surfers through the release of a limited-edition event T-shirt. Designed by a local artist and available for purchase throughout the event, all proceeds from T-shirt sales will go towards funding the Gisborne scholastic surf team as they prepare for the national scholastics in Taranaki in October. Beyond the competition, the Gisborne Junior Pro is also a celebration of surf culture, community and the raw energy of youth.
Scoop
01-05-2025
- Sport
- Scoop
Strong Kiwi Showings At 2025 ISA World Longboard Championship In El Salvador
From: Surfing New Zealand Sport: Surfing Event: 2025 ISA World Longboard Championship Location: El Salvador Event Information: Surfing New Zealand / ISA New Zealand's surfers have wrapped up a spirited campaign at the 2025 ISA World Longboard Surfing Championship, held at the iconic El Sunzal point in El Salvador's Surf City. The world-class event attracted 103 athletes from 32 nations, showcasing the best of international longboard surfing in a week filled with excitement, drama, and challenging conditions. Jack Tyro emerged as New Zealand's top performer, navigating a demanding competition format to finish 13th overall—the highest result for a Kiwi competitor. Tyro got off to a flying start, winning both his opening heats in Rounds 1 and 2 with confident, stylish surfing. A 4th place in Round 3 sent him into the repechage rounds, where he remained composed under pressure. He bounced back strongly in Repechage Round 1, posting a convincing heat win. In what became his final heat—Repechage 5—Tyro battled against elite surfers from Portugal and Argentina, finishing 3rd with a solid heat total of 9.54. Though narrowly missing out on the next round, his performance secured him a well-deserved 13th place overall, making him the top-ranked New Zealand surfer in the competition. Returning competitor Hannah Kohn also showed grit in the women's division. After a strong start with a 2nd place finish in Round 1, she encountered tougher conditions in Round 2, finishing 4th and moving into the repechage. In testing, onshore conditions during her last-chance heat, Kohn finished 4th and bowed out of the event, placing 46th overall. Reflecting on her campaign, Kohn said, 'The event has been so much fun. We had some wild waves a couple of days ago with heavy shore break and tricky tides. Yesterday the conditions cleaned up, and it was great to get some proper waves for our heats. Being here among the world's best is so inspiring—watching them handle 8ft onshore surf is incredible.' Now that her competition is over, Kohn is looking forward to enjoying the region: 'We're hoping to grab the shortboards and explore some of the other waves around. It's such an amazing place.' Gabi Paul demonstrated resilience in the women's draw. After a 3rd place finish in Round 1, she dropped into the repechage rounds, where she delivered a strong performance to finish 2nd against top competitors from El Salvador, Ecuador, and Spain. Her journey came to an end in the following repechage round, where she finished 3rd, placing 37th overall in the women's field. In the men's division, Oliver Janes put together a determined campaign, placing 3rd in his opening heat and moving into the repechage. There, he notched a first-place finish over surfers from Denmark and Thailand. In Repechage Round 2, Janes raised the bar again, claiming second place against a high-calibre field including competitors from the United States, South Africa, and Wales. His run ended in Repechage Round 3, where despite another strong showing, he finished outside the advancing positions, ultimately securing 37th overall. 'The event has been a blast,' said Janes. 'There's a lot of pressure—especially wanting to perform with the team around you. The wave can be tricky. You never know what you're going to get in a heat, and sometimes it's just about being in the right place at the right time. Still, getting to surf against this level of talent and experience these conditions is huge for growth.' With one day of competition remaining, New Zealand currently sits in equal 17th place alongside Chinese Taipei. While the team's final position will be confirmed once the event concludes, their performances continue New Zealand's consistent trend, having placed 17th in the last two ISA World Longboard Championships as well. The event has served as a valuable development experience for all athletes, many of whom are still early in their international careers. With each heat surfed, the Kiwi surfers gained critical competition experience on a global stage. El Sunzal has again proven itself as a world-class longboard destination. Known for its long, right-hand point breaks, the wave offers ample opportunity for stylish, traditional longboarding as well as high-performance maneuvers. However, competitors faced their share of challenges throughout the week, with changing tides, strong onshore winds, and heavy shore breaks testing even the most seasoned surfers. Complete event write-ups, results, surfer ratings and images from the event can be viewed at Surfing New Zealand. And the ISA Website Information For more information please contact Ben Kennings on 021 2278732 or email benkennings@ Imagery Web clips and newsfeeds will be distributed free of charge from the event. Please contact the ISA for further details. High-resolution images will be available to media upon request. Images will be distributed free of charge.
