The
best
junior
surfers
in
New
Zealand
were
tested
by
a
solid
swell
at
Gisborne
today
as
the
National
Scholastic
Surfing
Championships
enters
the
final
two
days
of
action.
A
3.0m
swell
forced
a
venue
change
to
Midway
Beach
in
town
for
the
third
day
of
the
event
and
pushed
the
youngsters
to
the
limit
on
many
occasions
with
the
younger
divisions
being
postponed
for
the
day.
Three
regional
teams
have
ten
of
their
twelve
surfers
remaining
in
the
event
including
Northland,
Waikato
and
hosts
Gisborne.
Defending
champions
Bay
of
Plenty
have
nine
surfers
remaining
as
do
Taranaki
and
Otago
led
by
Alexis
Owen.
It
didn’t
take
long
for
the
action
to
heat
up
when
Alexis
Owen
surfed
to
an
event
high
17.67
point
heat
total
in
the
opening
match
up
of
the
day.
Ironically,
it
was
the
first
time
that
Owen
has
ever
surfed
Midway
but
that
was
no
barrier
for
a
massive
performance
as
he
brought
his
international
experience
home
from
the
recent
World
Junior
Championships
in
El
Salvador.
Owen
was
joined
by
the
likes
of
Sev
Tolhurst
(Auck)
who
turned
his
heat
in
the
final
seconds
with
a
7.83
point
ride
for
one
big
backhand
turn
allowing
him
to
advance
alongside
Waikato
surfer
Indica
Corcoran.
Local
surfer
Ollie
Tong
was
the
best
Gisborne
performer
winning
his
heat
to
advance
alongside
Zen
Mouldey
(BOP).
Waikato’s
Van
Camenzind
rounded
out
the
Under
18
Boys
Division
for
the
day
advancing
to
the
quarterfinals
in
the
final
heat
of
the
round.
The
Under
16
Boys
Divisions
filled
the
afternoon
with
a
number
of
big
performances
across
several
teams.
Archie
Alder
(Gis)
used
his
local
knowledge
to
power
through
to
the
quarterfinals
matching
the
likes
of
New
Zealand
Junior
Team
members
Sol
Fritchley
(BOP)
and
Jesse
Frazerhurst
(Auck)
with
heat
wins.
Xander
Banks
kept
Waikato’s
hopes
alive
for
another
podium
finish
after
last
year’s
third
placing.
Banks
is
renowned
for
his
love
of
big
waves
and
a
12.63-point
heat
total
proved
that
he
will
be
a
force
as
we
head
into
the
later
rounds
of
the
event.
It
is
likely
that
we
will
return
to
Midway
Beach
for
the
penultimate
day
of
the
event,
the
surf
expected
to
ease
throughout
the
day
with
favourable
northwest
winds.
Two
full
days
of
action
are
required
to
complete
the
event
with
Thursday
and
Friday
streamed
live
via
Maori+.
Full
results
can
be
viewed
via
Live
Heats.
The
National
Scholastic
Surfing
Championships
brings
together
school-aged
surfers
representing
thirteen
regions
from
Northland
to
Southland.
Bay
of
Plenty
is
the
defending
champion
following
last
year’s
event
in
Taranaki.
They
have
traded
titles
with
Auckland
since
2022.
The
Scholastic
Championships
feature
Under
14
through
to
Under
18
divisions,
along
with
boys’
and
girls’
longboard
divisions.
First
held
in
1989,
the
National
Scholastic
Surfing
Championships
have
a
long
history
of
showcasing
New
Zealand’s
emerging
surfing
talent,
with
many
former
competitors
going
on
to
represent
New
Zealand
internationally.
Event
Information
The
National
Scholastic
Championships
is
sanctioned
by
School
Sport
New
Zealand
and
proudly
supported
by
the
New
Zealand
Sports
Collective
comprising
Whakaata
Maori,
Bayleys
Real
Estate,
Caltex,
Nateva,
Apollo
Projects,
Anchor
and
Pub
Charity.
Further
Information
For
further
information
on
the
2026
Scholastic
Championships
please
contact
Surfing
New
Zealand’s
Ben
Kennings
on
021
2278732
or
email
benkennings@surfingnz.co.nz.
Imagery
High
resolution
action
images
of
the
surfing
will
be
available
to
media
free
of
charge
upon
request.
Social
Media
Keep
up
with
all
the
action
by
following
@surfingnz
on
Facebook,
Instagram
and
Twitter.
Surfing
New
Zealand
is
proudly
partnered
by:
Sport
NZ
ACC
Sun
Bum
Kiwi
Holiday
Insurance
Ends
Go to Surfing New Zealand
Author: Ben Kennings