More
than
200
school-aged
surfers
from
around
New
Zealand
will
descend
on
Gisborne
over
the
next
seven
days
as
Tairāwhiti
hosts
two
national
surfing
championships,
bringing
young
athletes,
families,
coaches
and
supporters
to
the
region.
The
Sticky
Johnson
Primary
School
Championships
presented
by
Skullcandy
and
the
National
Scholastic
Surfing
Championships
will
be
held
across
Gisborne’s
coastline
from
26
September
to
2
October.
The
week
gets
underway
this
weekend
with
the
Sticky
Johnson
Primary
School
Championships,
which
will
see
around
90
young
surfers
take
to
the
water,
many
competing
in
their
first
national
event.
The
Primary
School
Championships
use
a
round-robin
format
designed
to
give
young
surfers
plenty
of
opportunity
to
participate,
gain
competition
experience
and
enjoy
the
event
environment.
For
some
competitors,
it
will
be
their
first
step
into
organised
surfing
competition
alongside
their
peers.
The
event
has
also
provided
a
starting
point
for
many
surfers
who
have
gone
on
to
represent
New
Zealand
and
compete
at
the
highest
levels
of
the
sport.
Following
the
Primary
School
Championships,
the
National
Scholastic
Surfing
Championships
will
bring
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
and
both
teams
look
strong
heading
into
this
year’s
event.
The
host
region
will
be
looking
to
build
on
a
strong
year
of
school
surfing
after
Gisborne
Boys’
High
School
won
the
New
Zealand
School
Surfing
Festival
in
March.
A
win
next
week
would
be
the
first
for
the
region
since
2011.
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.
This
year’s
event
will
feature
10
of
the
12
members
of
the
New
Zealand
Junior
Surfing
Team,
who
have
recently
returned
from
the
ISA
World
Junior
Surfing
Championships
where
the
team
finished
a
well-deserved
eighth
in
the
world.
Surfing
New
Zealand
is
looking
forward
to
bringing
the
national
school
surfing
community
to
Tairāwhiti
for
the
week.
“We’re
really
looking
forward
to
being
in
Gisborne
for
the
week
and
seeing
some
of
New
Zealand’s
top
young
surfing
talent
take
on
the
waves
Tairāwhiti
has
to
offer,”
said
Surfing
New
Zealand’s
Ben
Kennings.
“It’s
also
fantastic
to
have
so
many
young
surfers
and
their
families
travelling
to
the
region.
Events
like
these
provide
a
great
opportunity
for
young
people
to
compete,
build
friendships
and
gain
experience,
while
also
bringing
visitors
into
the
region
and
showcasing
Gisborne
as
a
great
surfing
destination.”
With
several
weather
systems
moving
under
New
Zealand
during
the
week,
we
can
expect
the
surf
to
turn
on
as
we
look
to
maximise
the
numerous
breaks
on
offer.
The
final
two
days
of
the
National
Scholastic
Surfing
Championships
will
be
streamed
live
via
the
Whakaata
Māori
YouTube
channel,
providing
an
opportunity
for
families,
supporters
and
surfing
fans
around
New
Zealand
to
follow
the
action
from
Gisborne.
Event
Information
Sticky
Johnson
Primary
School
Championships
presented
by
Skullcandy
26–27
September
2026
Gisborne,
Tairāwhiti
National
Scholastic
Surfing
Championships
28
September–2
October
2026
Gisborne,
Tairāwhiti
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.
The
Primary
School
Champs
is
proudly
supported
by
Sticky
Johnson,
Skullcandy,
Pit
Viper
and
Grassroots
Trust
Central.
Competition
will
run
daily
from
8.00am
to
5.00pm.
Locations,
scheduling
and
results
will
be
posted
online.
Primary
School
Champs
–
https://liveheats.com/events/546362
Scholastic
Champs
–
https://liveheats.com/events/142013
Past
Champions
Teams
2025
–
Bay
of
Plenty
2024
–
Auckland
2023
–
Bay
of
Plenty
2022
–
Auckland
2021
–
Cancelled
Under
18
Boys
2025
–
Sev
Tolhurst
(Auck)
2024
–
Cooper
Ashill
(North)
2023
–
Tai
Murphy
(BOP)
2022
–
Tyler
Perry
(Cant)
2021
–
Cancelled
Under
18
Girls
2025
–
Ariana
Walker
(BOP)
2024
–
Leia
Millar
(Auck)
2023
–
Ava
Henderson
2022
–
Liv
Haysom
(Auck)
2021
–
Cancelled
Under
16
Boys
2025
–
Sol
Fritchley
(BOP)
2024
–
Alexis
Owen
(Otago)
2023
–
Alexis
Owen
(Otago)
2022
–
Jack
Tyro
(Cant)
2021
–
Cancelled
Under
16
Girls
2025
–
Poppy
Arkle
(Auck)
2024
–
Indi-Lee
Ruddell
(North)
2023
–
Leia
Millar
(Auck)
2022
–
Leia
Millar
(Auck)
2021
–
Cancelled
Under
14
Boys
2025
–
Jaxon
Pardoe
(Gis)
2024
–
Jesse
Frazerhurst
(Auck)
2023
–
Vitor
Bauermann
(BOP)
2022
–
Alexis
Owen
(Otago)
2021
–
Cancelled
Under
14
Girls
2025
–
Ella
Rebolledo
Withers
(Auck)
2024
–
Lola
Groube
(Coro)
2023
–
Poppy
Arkle
(Auck)
2022
–
India
Kennings
(Coro)
2021
–
Cancelled
Under
18
Boys
Longboard
2025
–
Jaxon
Willows
(BOP)
2024
–
Taj
Robinson
(Auck)
2023
–
Jack
Tyro
(Cant)
2022
–
Nat
Fitt
(Auck)
2021
–
Cancelled
Under
18
Girls
Longboard
2025
–
Emma
Lay
(North)
2024
–
Emma
Lay
(North)
2023
–
Lucy
Macefield
(Cant)
2022
–
Jay
Emere
–
Ryan
(Gis)
2021
–
Cancelled
Further
Information
For
further
information
on
the
2026
Primary
School
and
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