Fitzroy set for world-class longboarding this King’s Birthday Weekend

Fitzroy
set
for
world-class
longboarding
this
King’s
Birthday
Weekend

Fresh
off
the
momentum
of
the
World
Surf
League
Championship
Tour
stop
in
Raglan,
the
focus
shifts
to
Fitzroy
Beach
this
King’s
Birthday
Weekend
as
the
Egmont
Honey
Pro
LQS,
part
of
the
Taranaki
Longboard
Classic,
brings
top-level
longboarding
to
the
region.

With
a
competition
window
running
from
Saturday
30
May
to
Sunday
31
May,
the
event
will
bring
leading
New
Zealand
and
international
longboarders
to
Fitzroy
for
a
weekend
of
competition,
community,
and
coastal
energy.

As
the
final
stop
of
the
2026
WSL
Australia/Oceania
Regional
Longboard
Qualifying
Series,
the
event
carries
competitive
weight,
with
qualifying
points
and
a
NZ$12,000
prize
pool
on
offer.
The
top-ranked
eligible
surfer
will
secure
a
place
on
the
2026/2027
WSL
Longboard
World
Tour.

For
spectators,
it
is
a
rare
chance
to
watch
high-quality
longboarding
up
close,
with
New
Zealand
contenders
lining
up
alongside
international
surfers.

The
field
includes
some
of
the
region’s
top-ranked
longboarders,
including
Luana
Matthies,
currently
ranked
women’s
No.
1
for
Australia/Oceania
after
placing
second
at
the
2026
Noosa
Longboard
Pro,
and
Nicholas
Brewer,
the
current
men’s
No.
1
for
Australia/Oceania
and
2026
Noosa
Longboard
Pro
winner.
New
Zealand
interest
will
be
strong
too,
with
Mount
Maunganui’s
Jaxon
Willows
and
Christchurch
surfer
Jack
Tyro
both
chasing
qualification
points,
while
Taranaki
local,
Izaro
Williamson
Sasia,
will
also
compete
on
familiar
Fitzroy
waves.

The
weekend
programme
includes
the
Egmont
Honey
Pro,
junior
divisions,
social
men’s
and
women’s
divisions,
and
a
teams
challenge
and
expressions
session,
with
finals
and
the
awards
presentation
planned
for
Sunday
afternoon,
conditions
permitting.

The
event
is
proudly
supported
by
Egmont
Honey,
with
the
flagship
competition
named
the
Egmont
Honey
Pro.
Egmont
Honey
will
fuel
the
weekend
for
surfers
and
spectators
alike,
from
free
Mānuka
honey
samples
and
cold
honey
elixir
drinks
on
the
beach
to
a
dedicated
chill-out
zone.
Athletes
will
find
Egmont
Honey
in
their
race
packs,
and
off
the
water,
local
favourites
Paris
Plage
are
getting
in
on
the
action
with
Hot
Honey
pizza,
tacos
&
honey
inspired
cocktails.

Off
the
water,
activity
will
build
around
New
Plymouth
with
a
food
truck,
mini
market,
and
beachside
sauna
on
offer
at
Fitzroy
Beach,
along
with
evening
events
at
Paris
Plage,
Ōakura
Boardriders
Club,
and
Three
Sisters
Brewery
across
the
long
weekend.

Surfing
Taranaki
CEO
Craig
Williamson
says
bringing
the
event
to
Fitzroy
is
a
significant
moment
for
the
local
surf
community.

“To
have
a
World
Surf
League
Longboard
Qualifying
Series
event
here
at
Fitzroy
is
a
big
moment
for
our
surf
community.
People
will
be
able
to
stand
by
the
beach
and
watch
high-level
longboarding
in
the
same
waves
our
local
clubs
and
communities
know
so
well.

“With
the
pro
event,
juniors,
social
divisions
and
activity
happening
around
the
weekend,
it’s
a
great
chance
for
people
to
come
down,
support
the
surfers
and
be
part
of
the
atmosphere.”

Te
Puna
Umanga
Venture
Taranaki
General
Manager
Destination
Janet
Reynolds
says
the
weekend
is
a
timely
showcase
of
the
region
as
a
year-round
visitor
destination.

“We
look
forward
to
welcoming
athletes,
support
crew,
and
spectators
across
the
weekend,
as
they
explore
all
that
Taranaki
has
to
offer
from
world-class
surf,
to
our
vibrant
hospitality,
boutique
shops,
and
warm
manaakitanga.”

“This
event
will
bring
visitors
into
the
region
during
the
quieter
season,
while
giving
locals
another
reason
to
get
out,
enjoy
the
atmosphere
and
experience
what
makes
Taranaki,
like
no
other.”

Daily
competition
times
and
heat
schedules
may
change
depending
on
swell,
tide
and
weather
conditions.

Spectators
are
encouraged
to
check
the
World
Surf
League
website
or
app
for
competition
schedule
updates,
and
@Taranaki_Longboard_Classic
on
Instagram
for
local
event
updates
before
heading
to
Fitzroy
Beach.

Parking
is
expected
to
be
limited
around
Fitzroy
Beach,
with
one-way
traffic
from
the
Beach
Street
entrance.
Spectators
are
encouraged
to
plan
ahead,
allow
extra
time,
and
consider
parking
further
afield
and
using
the
Coastal
Walkway
to
access
the
beach
by
foot
or
bike.
Additional
parking
is
available
at
East
End
Reserve.

Fast
Facts:

Event:
Egmont
Honey
Pro
LQS,
part
of
the
Taranaki
Longboard
Classic
Dates:
Saturday
30
May
–
Monday
1
June
Location:
Fitzroy
Beach,
New
Plymouth
Heat
Times:
7:30am
to
1pm
Saturday
and
Sunday
(Monday
is
a
reserve
day
only)
Predicted
surf
conditions:
Up
to
1.2m
at
times,
clean
and
contestable
on
Saturday
and
cross-shore
peaks
up
and
down
the
beach
on
Sunday.

Egmont
Honey
Pro
–
Surfers
to
watch:

Women

Luana
Matthies,
15,
Gold
Coast,
Queensland,
currently
ranked
No.
1
for
Australia/Oceania.
Competing
in
her
fourth-ever
LQS,
Placed
second
at
the
2026
Noosa
Longboard
Pro
–
the
highest
placed
woman
from
the
region.

Kirra
Molnar,
32,
Noosa,
Sunshine
Coast,
Queensland,
currently
ranked
No.
3
for
Australia/Oceania.
Ranked
World
No.
23
in
2025,
peaked
at
No.
17
in
2023.

Emma
Perrier,
25,
Tweed
Heads,
NSW,
currently
ranked
No.
4
for
Australia/Oceania.

Competed
on
the
World
Longboard
Tour
in
2024,
finishing
World
No.
19

Men

Nicholas
Brewer,
26,
Noosa,
Sunshine
Coast,
Queensland,
currently
ranked
No.
1
for
Australia/Oceania.
2026
Noosa
Longboard
Pro
Winner,
competed
on
the
Longboard
Tour
in
2019,
finishing
at
World
No.
21

Jaxon
Willows,
18,
Mount
Maunganui,
New
Zealand,
currently
ranked
No.
3
for
Australia/Oceania.
Only
Kiwi
to
make
the
Final
of
the
2026
Noosa
Longboard
Pro,
2026
open
and
junior
winner
in
both
NZ
Nationals
and
NZ
Festival
of
Longboarding

Jack
Tyro,
19,
Christchurch,
New
Zealand,
currently
ranked
No.
4
for
Australia/Oceania.
Competed
in
the
Bioglan
Bells
Beach
Longboard
Classic
(WLT)
in
2023
and
2025,
Multiple-time
NZ
National
Champion,
winning
titles
in
both
longboard
and
shortboard