Sunday couldn't have been any better for Northland's Indi-Lee Ruddell.
Not only did she celebrate her 10th birthday, Ruddell was also crowned the winner of the under-18 division at the Aotearoa Māori Surfing Titles at Stent Road in Taranaki over the weekend.
![Ten-year-old Indi-Lee Ruddell (centre) receives a hero's welcome after her win in the under-18 division on Sunday. Photo / Supplied](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/6ED2QEIHCWBPBPIAGUEFBRUSKA.jpg?auth=87f93950d51bf913f55ad37d4c6dddc1cdc5e5a7bef5b42a043656aecb603410&width=16&height=24&quality=70&smart=true)
Surfing against girls almost six years her senior on Sunday, Ruddell (Te Rarawa) dominated her three-person heat to qualify third for the division final. Ruddell was then able to make the most of poor conditions to take the title.
"It was very nerve-wracking [in the final] because no waves came through when we were out in the water," she said.