It
was
a
short
second
day
at
the
2026
National
Surfing
Championships
presented
by
Trust
Tairawhiti
being
held
at
Gisborne,
the
strong
overnight
winds
whipping
the
already
small
swell
down
to
an
incontestable
size.
It
wasn’t
until
the
onshore
winds
whipped
up
in
the
afternoon,
that
a
small
swell
allowed
the
first
round
of
the
Under
14
Divisions.
The
short
day
equates
to
an
action
packed
day
three
pending
on
Tuesday
(13th
January).
A
total
of
fifteen
titles
will
be
awarded
on
day
3
comprising
all
senior
age
groups
as
well
as
the
longboard,
SUP
and
bodyboard
divisions.
This
afternoon
it
was
all
about
the
groms,
the
only
participants
small
enough
to
ride
the
small
0.5m
swell
with
any
conviction.
Mount
Maunganui
surfer
Ffeon
Clifford
dominated
in
the
boys
division
surfing
to
a
16.0
point
heat
total.
He
was
matched
by
Zara
Owen
in
the
girls
division,
Owen
herself
notching
up
a
15.33
point
heat
total.
Other
early
round
stand
outs
in
the
divisions
included
Millie
Dyck
and
Nami
Marsden
in
the
girls
and
Noah
Crespo
(Rag),
Louis
Macquet
(Mnt),
Solomon
Ryan
(Mnt)
and
Roy
Thomas
(Gis)
in
the
boys.
The
surf
is
expected
to
build
significantly
for
day
3
with
a
south
swell
building
but
accompanied
by
onshore
north
east
winds.
Day
three
will
see
the
completion
of
all
men’s
and
women’s
senior
age
group
divisions,
all
longboard
divisions
and
the
SUP
and
Bodyboard.
Detailed
daily
schedules,
live
scores,
and
results
will
be
available
via
www.liveheats.com/surfingnz.
Due
to
the
challenging
swell
conditions,
schedules
are
subject
to
change
daily
and
throughout
the
day
as
we
look
to
maximise
daylight
hours
and
optimal
conditions.
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
3
–
Senior
Men
and
Women
Divisions,
Junior
Boys
and
Girls,
Longboard,
SUP,
Bodyboard
Day
4
–
Open
Men
and
Women,
Junior
Boys
and
Girls
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
Tue
13th
Jan
–
Cold
Water
Movie
Night,
The
Dome
(7pm)
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