Mount
Maunganui’s
Jaxon
Willows
and
Taranaki’s
Izaro
Williamson
–
Sasia
have
claimed
rare
double
doubles
by
winning
the
senior
and
junior
longboarding
divisions
at
the
2026
National
Surfing
Championships
presented
by
Trust
Tairawhiti.
In
challenging
1.0m
conditions
early
this
evening,
the
two
surfers,
aged
17
and
14
respectively
took
unexpected
wins
in
the
senior
divisions
after
earlier
winning
their
age
groups.
It
is
a
feat
only
achieved
once
previously
by
Christchurch
surfer
Jack
Tyro
in
2022.
Willows
surfed
four
heats
during
the
day
in
a
marathon
effort
before
coming
up
against
three
stalwarts
of
the
longboarding
community.
It
was
Australian
based
Jordan
Griffin
that
found
a
few
corners
to
keep
in
touch
with
Willows
and
eventually
finishing
runner
up.
Ex
champion
Gisborne
surfers
Dylan
Barnfield
and
Daniel
Procter
had
to
settle
for
third
and
fourth
in
the
final.
Williamson
–
Sasia
claimed
the
women’s
title
with
a
nice
righthander
that
included
a
clean
nose
ride
and
swift
foot
work
scoring
6.27
points
out
of
a
possible
10.
With
a
10.94
point
heat
total,
she
eclipsed
Ariana
Walker
(Mnt)
who
finished
in
second.
Jay
Ryan
finished
in
third
and
Te
Waiotu
of
Gisborne
finished
in
fourth.
The
four
titles
shared
by
Willows
and
Williamson
–
Sasia
were
among
fifteen
awarded
throughout
a
long
day
of
surfing
which
capitalised
on
the
peak
of
the
swell
this
week.
Defending
stand
up
paddleboard
champions
Karlos
Aarsen
(WGM)
and
Stella
Smith
(Gis)
repeated
the
dose
at
Makorori
today
beating
their
opponents.
Matt
Scorringe
(Mnt)
secured
his
second
title
in
the
senior
men’s
divisions,
this
time
in
the
over
30
Men’s.
Scorringe
went
out
with
a
solid
game
plan
to
hunt
some
lefthanders
surfing
downwind
on
his
forehand
before
going
to
his
backhand
on
the
rights.
He
started
out
with
an
8.0
point
ride
and
followed
it
up
with
a
7.40
to
hold
the
lead
for
the
entire
final.
Scorringe
beat
Blair
Stewart
(Gis),
Nick
White
(Gis)
and
Logan
Mills
(Mnt).
In
the
senior
women’s
divisions
it
was
Lou
Aitken
(Whngrei)
who
won
the
Over
30
Women’s
Division,
Claire
Youmans
(Gis)
won
the
Over
40
Women’s
Division.
In
the
Over
50s
it
was
Rachel
Ormsby
who
took
the
win
and
Gaylene
Sayer
won
the
over
60
Women’s.
Maz
Quinn
fended
off
younger
brother
Jay
to
win
the
Over
40
Men’s
Division
posting
a
14.27
point
heat
total
in
the
final.
Maz
finished
the
final
with
a
7.10
point
ride
late
to
extend
his
lead
over
Jay
who
finished
in
second,
Sam
Johnson
(Gis)
in
third
and
Thomas
Kibblewhite
(Auck)
in
fourth.
Matt
Bennett
(Mnt)
took
the
win
in
the
Over
50
Men’s
Division
posting
a
14.0
point
heat
total.
Competing
for
the
first
time
in
many
moons,
the
smooth
goofy
footer
managed
to
hold
off
Rick
Lasch
(Rag)
in
the
final,
himself
posting
a
12.90
point
heat
total
to
finish
runner
up.
The
Over
60s
title
was
one
of
the
more
widely
celebrated
wins
today
with
Steve
‘Teddy’
Colbert
taking
the
win.
Colbert
last
won
a
national
title
in
1984
with
42
long
years
between
drinks
for
the
local
Gisborne
surfer.
Gary
Stevenson
(Gis)
claimed
the
Over
70
Men’s
Division
on
the
strength
of
one
wave
after
incurring
an
interference
early
in
the
final.
Bodyboard
titles
went
to
Michael
Williams
in
the
Men’s
and
defending
champion
Gisiele
Summerton
(Dun)
in
the
Women’s
Division.
The
surf
is
expected
to
decrease
for
day
4
(Wednesday
14th
January),
however
conditions
are
forecasted
to
remain
clean
all
day
with
northwest
winds.
Day
4
will
comprise
the
premier
Open
Women’s
Division
kicking
off
the
day
followed
by
the
Open
Men’s
Division.
Just
under
400
entries
across
28
divisions
have
been
confirmed.
The
event
features
competition
across
shortboard,
longboard,
stand
up
paddleboard
(SUP),
Kneeboard
bodyboard
and
adaptive
disciplines,
with
divisions
spanning
from
Under
14s
through
to
Over
70s.
Special
awards
at
the
event
include
the
title
of
the
top
boardrider
club
in
the
nation
as
well
as
the
Peter
Byers
Trophy
awarded
to
the
surfer
with
the
most
outstanding
performance
across
the
week.
The
event
marks
the
first
of
eight
national
events
around
the
New
Zealand
coastline
as
part
of
the
Epic
Break
summer
campaign
showcasing
surfing
talent
and
celebrating
the
surfing
community
between
January
and
April.
The
2026
event
is
hosted
by
Gisborne
Boardriders
Club
alongside
Trust
Tairawhiti.
They
are
joined
by
event
partners
Neighbourhood
Cantina,
Chris
Fougere
Orthopaedics,
Kiwi
Holiday
Insurance,
ACC
and
Sun
Bum.
Competition
runs
daily
from
8.00am
to
5.00pm,
with
the
Open
Men’s
and
Women’s
finals
expected
to
take
place
on
Saturday
17th
January.
Surfing
Timetable
Day
4
–
Open
Men
and
Women
Day
5
–
Open
Men
and
Women,
Junior
Boys
and
Girls
Day
6
–
Open
Men
and
Women,
Junior
Boys
and
Girls,
Kneeboard
Day
7
–
Open
Men
and
Women,
Junior
Boys
and
Girls,
Adaptive
Social
Calendar
Wed
14th
Jan
–
Skate
Expression
Session
Thurs
15th
Jan,
Nias
Surf
Movie
Night,
The
Dome
/
Neighbourhood
Cantina
Night
Fri
16th
Jan,
Coast
Kids
Surf
Day
/
Ambrose
Golf
Team
Tournament
(3pm)
Sat,
17th
Jan,
After
Party,
Smash
Palace
–
Hitman
Johnny
Gibbs,
Flaxxies
and
The
Butlers
(7pm)
The
2026
National
Surfing
Championships
commences
both
the
domestic
NZ
Surf
Series,
NZ
Grom
Series
and
NZ
Longboard
Series
with
events
scheduled
around
the
country
this
summer.
Further
Information
For
further
information
on
the
2026
National
Surfing
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.
Use
the
hashtag
#Nats2026
and
#EpicBreak
to
follow
the
story.
Surfing
New
Zealand
is
proudly
partnered
by:
Sport
NZ
ACC
Sun
Bum
Kiwi
Holiday
Insurance
Ends
Go to Surfing New Zealand
Author: Ben Kennings