Surfing: Local performers impress Far North Surf Shop

Johnny Andrews presents Karn Godfrey, Ben Moretti and Taj Brougthon with new wetsuits and apparel earlier this month to help them stay out in the water long this winter.

Three local grommets will have no problems keeping warm this winter after being presented with new steamers by the owners of a local surf shop.

Having been impressed with the trio's performances throughout the first two legs of the provincial scholastics surfing series (used to pick a team to represent Northland at the nationals later this year), Far North Surf Shop owners Jonny Andrews and Tania Smith presented the grommets with top of the line Vissla wetsuits as well as FNSS label apparel late last month.

Taj Burrows, 14, Karn Godfrey, 13, and Ben Moretti, also 13, have been turning heads at their local surfbreaks for a while now and between them nailed some good results at the second leg in the annual Northland scholastics selection series, held in perfect conditions at Sandy Bay last month.

Taj placed second in the highly competitive under-16 boys division, Ben took two third places in the U14 boys and open longboard divisions and Karn showed strong potential in his first foray into the competition surfing scene.

All three hail from Ahipara bar Moretti who grew up on a DoC farm near Mimiwhangata.

Andrews said the shop was proud to support the lads with any competitive ambitions they held.

He also thanked Chad Merlo for his help custom printing the wetties and apparel.

"This is designed to give them opportunities to get outside this area to surf. If they don't have to buy a wettie, there's more money for surf trips," he noted.