Farr and Mateja champs

Daniel Farr, of Taranaki, and Maya Mateja, of Raglan, are the 2024 open men’s and women’s national surfing champions.Picture by Mark Stevenson

Taranaki surfer Daniel Farr claimed his second open men’s national surfing title by the closest margin in the history of the event.

In the open women’s contest, 15-year-old Raglan surfer Maya Mateja stunned the field to win the title.

Gisborne’s Saffi Vette, open women’s champion in 2021 at the age of 19, was eliminated in the semifinals at Dunedin on Saturday.

In 30-degree-plus heat and clean one-metre waves, Farr posted a 16.50-point heat total to claim the title. He tied with Piha surfer Dune Kennings but won by way of having the highest single wave score of 9.0 against 8.5 for Kennings.

Kennings had one last opportunity to defend his title with less than 30 seconds remaining.  He required an 8.51 ride for victory but managed only a 7.0-point ride.

Farr, 24, is the 11th surfer in the 61-year history of the event to claim more than one title. His first came in 2022 at Westport.

Eight-time champion Billy Stairmand (Raglan) was third and Caleb Cutmore (Raglan) was fourth.

Mateja became the third youngest surfer to win the open women’s crown. She finished with a 12.90-point heat total.

Estella Hungerford, of Christchurch,  finished second, her career best result.  Thirteen-year-old Alani Morse (Raglan) was third and Brie Bennett (Raglan) was fourth.