The 2025 National Surfing Championships, presented by the Toi Foundation, saw the crowning of six new junior champions on Thursday, January 16th, as young surfers showcased their skills at Taranaki’s renowned Stent Road.
With only two days left in the competition for the Open Men and Women’s Divisions, the spotlight was on the juniors as they battled in perfect conditions at one of New Zealand’s iconic waves.
In the Under 18 Boys Division, Tao Mouldey of Mount Maunganui claimed victory with a stellar final performance. He seized the lead midway through the heat and maintained his position to finish with a total score of 14.80 points.
“This national title means so much to me,” said Mouldey. “I’ve had some rough years at nationals, so it’s great to break that streak.” The key to his success was his strategic wait for the biggest wave of the final. “I waited for the perfect wave, and it came at the right time,” Mouldey explained.
Mouldey triumphed over a strong field, with Jacob Haines (Raglan) finishing second, followed by Lewis Murphy (Dunedin) in third, and Australian surfer Rico Haybittle in fourth.
Piha’s Leia Millar clinched victory in the Under 18 Girls Division with a dramatic last-minute performance. In the dying seconds of the final, Millar posted a score of 9.43, leapfrogging Maya Mateja (Raglan), who had just surged to the lead with an 8.17-point ride.
“I’ve never done that before,” said an ecstatic Millar. “When I got that wave, my legs were shaking, but I’m so stoked it worked out.”
Millar, who had a slower start to the competition, peaked at the perfect moment to secure the win. Maya Mateja took second, while Piha’s Poppy Arkle and Oakura’s Poppy Entwistle finished in third and fourth, respectively.
In the highly competitive Under 16 Boys Division, Mount Maunganui’s Vitor Bauermann emerged victorious in the day’s highest-scoring final. Bauermann posted a winning total of 15.44 points, narrowly edging out Benji Lowen (Christchurch) with a score of 15.06. Bauermann’s highest ride, an 8.07-point wave, proved to be the difference.
“The final was amazing. The waves were great, and it was fun to share the water with three other surfers,” Bauermann said. “I’m excited to win the title and qualify for the New Zealand Team to compete internationally.”
Lowen settled for second, while Indica Corcoran (Raglan) and Zen Mouldey (Mount Maunganui) finished third and fourth.
Brisa Canina from Coolum, Australia, claimed the Under 16 Girls Division with a solid 14.60-point total. “I’m super stoked. This wave is incredible,” said Canina, who was competing in New Zealand for the first time. “It’s been great to surf with such talented girls in my heats.”
Piha’s Poppy Arkle, also a double finalist, finished second, followed by Lola Groube (Pauanui) in third and Kyra Wallis (Piha) in fourth.
In the Under 14 Divisions, Jaxon Pardoe (Gisborne) and 12-year-old Zara Owen (Dunedin) claimed victories, with Owen scoring a perfect 10-point ride in her final heat.
With the junior titles secured, the competition moves into its final phase. Day six of the event will take place at Stent Road, where the Open Men and Women’s Divisions will take center stage. The first rounds of each division, along with the kneeboard competition, will kick off at 8 a.m. The swell is expected to slightly increase to 1.0m.
This year’s event has attracted over 400 participants, with a mobile schedule along the Taranaki coastline. The National Surfing Championships, in its 60th edition, will continue through to Friday, with a wide range of divisions, including age groups from Under 14 to Over 70, as well as Longboard, Stand Up Paddleboard, Bodyboard, Kneeboard, and adaptive events.
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