Taranaki, New Zealand – January 10, 2025.
The 2025 New Zealand National Surfing Championships are set to return to Taranaki this weekend, bringing together over 400 surfers from across the country for a week-long competition. The event, which runs from January 12 to 18, will take place across multiple locations in the Taranaki region, with flexibility to move based on the best surf conditions.
This year marks the 62nd edition of the championship, which is being held in Taranaki for the 10th time, with the region last hosting the event in 2019. The championship will feature a variety of divisions, including Open Men’s and Women’s, Juniors, Longboards, SUPS, Kneeboard, Bodyboard, and Adaptive.
Taranaki’s rugged West Coast is renowned for its vibrant surfing community, with many local surfers poised to make waves at the event. Notable participants include hometown hero Paige Hareb and two-time National Champion Daniel Farr, both hoping to secure another title. The competition will also feature rising stars such as Kalani Louis, Natasha Gouldsbury, and Spencer Rowson, among others.
One of the highlights of the event is the Peter Byers Overall Performance of the Event Award. The award honors Peter Byers, a key figure in the early days of New Zealand surfing and surfboard shaping. Byers passed away in 2012, and his legacy is celebrated through a specially crafted surfboard trophy made from West Coast Kauri wood by local craftsman Clive Barron.
The competition will span 29 divisions, ranging from Under 14 to Over 60s, as well as disciplines like Longboard, SUP, Bodyboard, Kneeboard, and Adaptive. The finals are expected to begin on Friday, January 17, with the main divisions concluding on Saturday, January 18. Daily events will run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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