Surfing: Bay beaches beckon gun surfers

Alexis Poulter is likely to be among some of the elite surfers to compete in Hawke's Bay on Labour Day weekend. Photo / Getty Images

The country's top surfers will be converging in Hawke's Bay next month for the annual Backdoor BayBash event.

The Backdoor BayBash, which will be staged on Labour Day weekend (October 25-26), marks the first nationally sanctioned open men and women's event held in the region.

The event allows the region's elite surfers the chance to compete against the best in New Zealand.

Male and female age-group surfers will converge to compete in various divisions.

"We are stoked to be able to bring a big surfing event back to the Bay," says Backdoor founder Geoff Hutchison.

"Backdoor has been part of the retail scene in the Hawke's Bay for a few years now and it is good to be able to put back into the local surfing community" Hutchison says.

Hastings Mayor Lawrence Yule echoes similar sentiments: "I am delighted that this nationally sanctioned surf event will come to the Hastings district for the first time."

Yule feels the surf will offer a great challenge while the sun-drenched beaches will be ideal to relax on.

The event is an extension of the successful Backdoor GromBash held at Raglan for the past two years. It is the final national event of the year. Consequently surfers will be chasing final rating points with gusto to clinch titles across the seven divisions.

Some of the the elite surfers include top seeds and Gisborne pair Maz Quinn and Bobby Hansen as well as Tane Wallis, of Piha, and Buck Woods, also of Gisborne.

Saturday night will feature a competitors skate night at Skatezone in Napier. Athletes and their families will be treated to a free barbecue.

Surfing will start from 8am and finish at 5pm daily. A call on the event venue will be made each morning.