Surfing: Silver fern comes before money

Mount Maunganui pro surfer Matt-Lewis Hewitt will lead the New Zealand team at the world champs in Ecuador next month. Photo / Cory / NZ Surfing Magazine

Mount Maunganui surfer Matt-Lewis Hewitt is putting the silver fern ahead of financial gain.

Despite having a tough year on the international circuit, he wants to help New Zealand make it into the top seven for the first time at the International Surfing Association (ISA) World Surfing Games in Nicaragua from May 31 to June 7.

Hewitt, 23, says there is no prize money on offer at the worlds, which is why New Zealand has struggled in the past to field its top team.

"A lot of the other countries are funded by their governments but we aren't, so quite a few of the top guys don't go because of other commitments and it is quite a lot of money out of the budget for the year," he said.

Hewitt is motivated to make a difference this time along with Paige Hareb (Taranaki) and Ella Williams (Whangamata) in the women's division, plus Billy Stairmand (Raglan), Dune Kennings (Whangamata) and former Mount Maunganui surfer JC Susan (Dunedin) in the men's division. They will face 150 competitors from 30 nations and want to improve on their overall ranking of 10th.

"My personal goal is definitely to go there and win it," Hewitt said. "That is every surfer's goal when they head over there. I have been in the team a couple of times before and if we can get into the top seven that qualifies us for the World King Challenge in China."

Hewitt admits he has had a challenging year trying to break into the lucrative top 100 tour. "It has been quite tough mentally with lots of cancellations of comps in the WSL (World Surfing League). It made it difficult and I ended up falling down the rankings about 50 or 60 spots. It wasn't planned but I guess that is the thing with surfing. You are dealing with the ocean and I just didn't get lucky in some heats, losing out on the last few minutes or so and not getting the best waves."

Hewitt is an ambassador with Deuce Generation footwear and the Young Hearts Project, with partners Youth Line and Great Potentials. The project provides inspiration, hope and financial help to young New Zealanders. Since November 2003, $300,000 has been raised through a donation of $5 from every pair of Deuce Generation shoes sold.

Hewitt addressed eight schools in the last year, including his old school, Tauranga Boys' College, speaking to teenagers about life goals.

"This has been my saving grace this year. I have been really humbled, and just to see their faces when I was talking, and how intrigued they were with what I did, was inspirational."