Bay of Plenty ride wave of wins

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Bay of Plenty steamrolled their opponents at the National Scholastic Surfing Championships in Gisborne last week, claiming their first victory in six years.

They secured two titles on the final day, Friday, with 10 of the 12 team members featuring in the finals of their divisions.

Canterbury stormed into contention on the final day, with three titles, but could not make up the lost ground from during the week and had to settle for the runners-up position. Defending champions Auckland finished third, with two titles.

Gisborne (Te Tairāwhiti) finished ninth of the 11 teams taking part. Asia Braithwaite had the best local result on the final day, finishing third in the under-18 girls’ division.

The final day of the event was contested in waves of one to 1.5 metres at Makorori Beach, with strong side shore winds affecting conditions early before they faded away to light onshores and good waves from mid-morning.

Bay of Plenty were led by their star performer and event standout Tai Murphy, who won the under-18 boys’ division. Tyler Perry, who attends the Raglan Surf Academy with Murphy, finished runner-up in the u18 division, helping his Canterbury team to second place.

Taranaki surfers Spencer Rowson and Nate Florence finished third and fourth respectively.

Ava Henderson had it all her way in the u18 girls’ division with a 16.40-point heat total for a comfortable win for Canterbury.

Pia Rogers (Whangamata) finished runner-up in the final and secured Coromandel’s best result, Gisborne’s Braithwaite was third and Sophia Brock (Bay of Plenty) was fourth.

Otago’s fourth place was their best team result in years. Their individual highlight was Alexis Owen’s victory in the u16 boys’ division. In one of the best finals of the day, Owen surfed to a 15.10-point heat total to edge past Bay of Plenty surfers Tava Santorik and Joe Goodjohn, who finished second and third respectively. Lewis Murphy (Otago) was fourth.

Owen is set to represent New Zealand at the World Junior Championships in Brazil at the end of November.

Leia Millar (Auckland) retained her title in the u16 girls’ division, with a 12.73 heat total.

Poppy Entwisle (Canterbury) was runner-up. She pushed Millar towards the end of the final but couldn’t find the 6.4-point ride she needed to win. Coromandel surfers Chloe Groube and India Kennings finished third and fourth respectively.

In the u14 divisions, Vitor Bauermann (Bay of Plenty) claimed the boys’ title and Poppy Arkle (Auckland) won the girls’ division.

Jack Tyro opened the boys’ longboard final with a 9.5-point ride and backed that up with an 8.17 for a massive victory – Canterbury’s third of the day – alongside teammate Lucy Macefield in the girls’ longboard.

The Adam Clegg Breakthrough Performance Awards went to Nate Florence (Taranaki) and Molly Mahina (Waikato).

Team points: Bay of Plenty (Tauranga Moana) 9465, 1; Canterbury (Otautahi) 8083, 2; Auckland (Tamaki Makaurau) 7863, 3; Otago (Otepoti) 6828, 4; Coromandel (Te Tara o te Ika a Maui) 6623, 5; Waikato 6040, 6; Northland (Te Tai Tokerau) 6011, 7; Taranaki 5825, 8; Gisborne (Te Tairāwhiti) 5801, 9; Hawke’s Bay (Heretaunga) 4577, 10; Wellington (Whanganui a Tara) 2908, 11.