Gisborne surfers chase NZ scholastic titles on finals day in Taranaki

The Tairāwhiti regional team, pictured before they left for the championships, comprised Jaxon Pardoe, Archie Alder, Roy Thomas, Harry McFarlane, Tobias Smith, Ollie Tong, Oska Gunness, Ikkyu Miura, Charlotte McDiarmid, Brooke Matthews, Bonnie Lynch and Te Waiotu Fairlie. Photo / Brennan Thomas Strike Photography

Today is finals day at the New Zealand Scholastic surfing championships in Taranaki, and the scene is set for strong Gisborne representation after yesterday’s semifinals.

A crew full of “talent, determination and Gizzy pride” has been in action on the west coast this week.

Te Waiotu Fairlie qualified for the U18 longboard semifinal earlier in the week and is one of the favourites to take the title.

Bonnie Lynch competed in the semifinals of the girls’ shortboard division yesterday.

Ollie Tong and Oska Gunness were in the quarter-finals of the U16 boys, where both were eliminated.

Tong was third in his quarter-final with a total wave score of 9.7 points, and Gunness was also third with a score of 10.37.

Brooke Matthews made the quarter-finals of the U16 girls and was eliminated with a score of 3.07, as was Charlotte McDiarmid with a 7.5 score.

Jaxon Pardoe from Gisborne will surf in the boys' U14 final at the New Zealand scholastics competition in Taranaki today. He goes in as top qualifier. Photo / Gisborne Herald

Jason Pardoe, Archie Alder and Harry McFarlane were semifinalists in the U14 boys, all of them in the same four-surfer semi, and Tobias Smith was in the other semifinal.

Pardoe won his semi with a score of 15.67 and advanced to the final as top qualifier.

Alder went out with a score of 11.96, as did McFarlane with 10.57 and Smith with 8.4.

The contest was held at the Stent Rd break yesterday, with a “pumping” swell of 3-4 feet running.