Northlander Paul Moretti has made his mark felt at the Health 2000 National Surfing Championships by taking down a multiple-time champion.
Five-time defending champion Billy Stairmand, from Raglan, 2017 runner-up Taylor Hutchison, also of Raglan, and perennial local favourite Maz Quinn all succumbed on an eventful day.
Moretti and Levi Stewart (Waihi Beach) claimed the scalp of Stairmand. Moretti won the quarter-final with a score of 11.07, fending off Stewart (10.63) and the former champion (10.4).
"It was awesome surfing with Levi in that heat, we have competed all through the junior ranks and it was awesome to get the opportunity to make it through to the semifinals together," Moretti said.
It is Moretti's first domestic event in several months and he admitted to nerves being a factor but hopes to surf those out over the coming days of the event.