A tasty section in front of Arlan Quinn who put himself in the right position to make the most of it. He went on to win the Year 6 and below boys' title of the Tairāwhiti Junior Surfing Championships.
A tasty section in front of Arlan Quinn who put himself in the right position to make the most of it. He went on to win the Year 6 and below boys' title of the Tairāwhiti Junior Surfing Championships.
“There was plenty of opportunity for the region’s youngest surfers to enjoy their growing skills,” Gisborne Boardriders Club spokeswoman Anneleen Van Dammesaid.
“From first-time competitors to seasoned young surfers, the day captured everything that makes grassroots surfing in Tairāwhiti so special.
Willow Dalton looks to get creative on this wave. Willow won the push-in girls' division.
“It was the first time we ran a secondary bank (surf break) for such a large proportion of the day.
“Doing it meant we could run our biggest division — the 33 push-in surfers — simultaneously with the other divisions, compressing the day. Thankfully, both banks delivered beautiful waves.”
The push-in division — designed to make competitive surfing accessible to even the youngest surfers — once again proved why the event existed, she said.
“Proud parents, local surf legends and experienced surfers waded into the water to get the young chargers into the sets of the day, while cheers echoed from the shoreline.
“The atmosphere was not only about results, but also about connection — community members coming together to share the stoke and nurture the next generation.”
The top four in the push-in girls' division were (from left) Willow Dalton, Bella-Anna Borrero, Molly Thomas and Anya McCavana.
Van Damme said across the Year 6 and below divisions and the Year 7 and 8 divisions, the standard of surfing reflected the strength of Tairāwhiti’s emerging talent pool.
“Confident take-offs and great turns showed that the future of local surfing is in capable hands.”
Among the boys who took part in the contest were (from left) Parker Smith, Taika Wellington, Leo Bob Hansen, Rio Whitaker and Owen Te Aho.
RESULTS
Year 6 and below, boys: Arlan Quinn 1, Tuki Taylor 2, Abe Bevins 3, Clyde Ross 4.
