Gisborne surfers to battle for Sunshine Shield

The experienced Maz Quinn, a four-time national open men's champion, will be one of the mainstays of the East Coast Surfriders team for the Sunshine Shield challenge. Photo / Supplied

The inaugural Sunshine Shield inter-club surfing trophy goes on the line this Saturday as the new “Ranfurly Shield” of surf contests nationwide comes to Gisborne.

In this first challenge for the trophy, New Zealand’s current number one boardriders club Bay Boardriders will surf against East Coast Surfriders from Tairāwhiti.

The Bay team, from Mount Maunganui, topped the points tally at the New Zealand national boardriders championship earlier this year.

On social media, Bay Boardriders described the contest as “surfing’s answer to the Ranfurly Shield” due to it being based on a similar challenge system to the provincial union rugby trophy.

Tairāwhiti’s team for the Sunshine Shield Challenge comprises: Steve Roberts and Shawn Collier in the over-50 men; Damon Gunness, Che Whitaker, Brent Rasby and Simon Thomas for the over-40 men; Nick White, Maz Quinn, Jay Quinn and Blair Stewart in the open men; and Holly Quinn and Hannah Kohn for the open women.

Hannah Kohn, seen here competing in the world longboard titles, will contest the open women's division of the new Sunshine Shield. Photo / International Surfing Association

The under-20 boys are Max Phillips and Ollie Tong; the U18 girls are Bonnie Lynch and Te Waiotu Fairlie; Oska Gunness and Tobias Smith are the U16 boys; Jaxon Pardoe and Archie Alder are the U14 boys, and Waylon Lynch and Lenny Quinn are the 12-and-under boys.

Jaxon Pardoe, the current New Zealand under-14 scholastics champion, will be a tough nut to crack in his age group at Saturday's event. Photo / Surfing NZ

Junior reserves will be Harry McFarlane and Roy Thomas.

Team spokeswoman Amy Spence said the Gisborne team will lay down a real challenge.

“There will be some serious rivalry after the Gizzy team was narrowly beaten last time they took on a team from Mount Maunganui,” Spence said.

“Everyone has been surfing well and there have been plenty of waves for them to practice on.

“They are amped for it on Saturday.”

Team captain Jay Quinn expects it to be a fairly even match-up.

“They might have us in some divisions, we’ll have them in others, it will come down to the minor results, and the ‘Tag Team’ results.

“All we need is some good waves.”

The event starts on Friday at 7pm with a meet and greet “Face off” at the Cantina, Wainui Beach.

On Saturday at 6am, a venue call with be made. The surfing will start at 8.30am.

There will be 20-minute heats for all the age groups during the morning, before finals.

At 1pm that afternoon, a Tag Team event will commence, with five-person team contests for “development” teams and “premier” teams, one from each club.

A prizegiving will be held at Sunshine Brewery on Saturday evening.