COOLANGATTA,
Queensland,
AUS
(Friday,
April
10,
2026)
– Taranaki’s
reputation
as
one
of
the
premier
surf
locations
in
Aotearoa
will
take
centre
stage
this
winter,
with
the
World
Surf
League
(WSL)
bringing
its
Longboard
Qualifying
Series
(LQS)
to
the
region
over
King’s
Birthday
Weekend
this
year.
The
Egmont
Honey
Pro,
as
part
of
the
Taranaki
Longboard
Classic,
follows
directly
on
from
the
WSL
Championship
Tour
stop
in
Raglan
the
week
prior,
keeping
international
surf
attention
firmly
on
New
Zealand’s
west
coast
and
reinforcing
the
region’s
place
on
the
global
surf
calendar.
As
the
second
and
final
stop
of
the
2026
WSL
Australia/Oceania
Regional
LQS,
the
stakes
are
high.
The
top-ranked
surfer
from
this
region
who
has
not
already
qualified
will
secure
a
place
on
the
2026/2027
WSL
Longboard Tour,
making
Taranaki
a
critical
final
battleground.
Craig
Williamson,
Surfing
Taranaki
CEO,
says
having
the
WSL
Longboard
Tour
at
Fitzroy
Beach
is
a
rare
opportunity
to
see
elite-level
longboarding
up
close.
“We’re
excited
to
be
hosting
the
WSL
Taranaki
Longboard
Classic
and
Egmont
Honey
Pro.
This
will
bring
world-class
competition
to
Taranaki
and
give
people
the
chance
to
watch
some
of
the
best
in
the
world
compete
right
here.”
Te
Puna
Umanga
Venture
Taranaki
General
Manager
Destination,
Janet
Reynolds,
says
hosting
the
event
is
a
strong
endorsement
of
the
region’s
standing
on
the
world
surf
stage.
“We’re
thrilled
to
support
this
event
through
our
facilitation
of
the
New
Plymouth
Major
Events
Fund.
It
reinforces
our
position
as
an
epic,
year-round
destination,
while
delivering
real
economic
impact,
bringing
competitors,
support
crew,
media
attention,
and
international
profile
that
supports
our
local
businesses
and
visitor
economy
through
the
traditionally
quieter
off-peak
period.”
With
its
maunga-to-moana
landscape,
consistent
swells
along
Surf
Highway
45,
and
a
deeply
rooted
surf
culture,
Taranaki
continues
to
cement
it
as
a
place
for
surfers
and
ocean
lovers
alike.
The
event
also
highlights
the
strength
of
New
Zealand’s
longboarding
talent,
with
several
athletes
competing
for
qualification.
Christchurch
surfer
Jack
Tyro
enters
the
event
ranked
fourth
on
the
regional
leaderboard,
following
a
strong
performance
in
Noosa,
while
current
New
Zealand
Open
and
Junior
National
Champion
Jaxon
Willows
sits
third,
both
within
reach
of
securing
enough
points
to
qualify
for
the
World
Tour.
If
successful,
they
would
join
a
very
short
list
of
New
Zealanders
to
reach
this
level,
with
Gisborne’s
Tom
Culham
the
only
Kiwi
to
qualify
for
the
Longboard
World
Tour
to
date,
achieving
that
feat
in
2013.
On
the
women’s
side,
rising
Taranaki
talent
Izaro
Williamson
Sasia,
current
National
Junior
and
Open
champion,
will
compete
on
home
turf
at
Fitzroy
Beach.
While
not
in
contention
for
World
Tour
qualification
this
season,
the
event
represents
a
major
opportunity
for
Izaro
to
gain
experience
against
world-class
competition
and
continue
building
a
pathway
for
future
success.
WSL
Longboard
Tour
Director
Will
Hayden-Smith
says,
“We’re
really
excited
to
bring
the
Longboard
Qualifying
Series
to
Taranaki.
It’s
a
region
with
incredible
natural
beauty
and
a
strong
surf
culture,
offering
the
perfect
setting
for
a
high-stakes
final
event.
With
World
Tour
qualification
on
the
line,
we’re
expecting
a
high
level
of
performance
and
a
great
showcase
of
longboarding
for
fans
and
the
local
community.”
The
event
is
proudly
supported
by
Egmont
Honey,
with
the
flagship
competition
named
the Egmont
Honey
Pro.
James
Annabell,
Egmont
Honey
CEO
and
Founder,
says
the
event
is
a
natural
fit
for
the
brand’s
alignment
with
performance
and
natural
energy.
“We’re
really
excited
to
support
the
world’s
best
longboarders
as
they
come
together
at
Fitzroy
Beach
here
in
Taranaki
for
the
Egmont
Honey
Pro.
At
Egmont
Honey,
we’re
big
believers
in
natural
energy
and
performance.
Our
Mānuka
honey
is
a
powerful,
clean
fuel,
and
we’re
proud
to
help
keep
these
athletes
going
–
whether
they’re
out
catching
waves
or
recharging
between
heats.”
Egmont
Honey
will
take
over
the
Fitzroy
Kiosk
for
the
event,
transforming
it
into
the
“HoneyPot
Café”
for
the
weekend.
The
café
will
feature
a
honey-fuelled
menu
designed
to
showcase
Mānuka
honey
as
a
natural
source
of
energy,
bringing
the
brand
to
life
for
spectators
and
the
local
community.
In
addition,
Egmont
Honey
will
support
the
Pro
surfers
across
the
weekend
–
following
their
journey
through
the
event
and
fuelling
them
with
Mānuka
honey
as
they
prepare,
compete,
and
recover
between
heats.
The
Egmont
Honey
Pro,
as
part
of
the
Taranaki
Longboard
Classic,
will run at
Fitzroy
Beach
from
May
30
to
June
1,
2026.
For
more
information,
head
to
WorldSurfLeague.com
or download the
Free
WSL
App.
Go to Surfing New Zealand
Author: Ben Kennings