Next generation on centre stage

LOOKING GOOD: Navryn Malone, of Raglan, was in impressive form competing in the under-16 division at the national surfing championships in Dunedin yesterday. Cory/NZ Surfing Magazine picture

NEW Zealand's next generation of surfing talent took centre stage at the national surfing championships in Dunedin yesterday and Gisborne's Finn Vette continued his strong form.

Vette breezed into the final eight in the under-16 boys' division, scoring 12.93 out of 20 in his heat at St Clair Beach.

The first wave on his backhand netted him 7.1 points out of 10, putting him in a commanding position and he won the heat comfortably.

The Raglan quartet in the division — Navryn Malone, Kora Cooper, Jayden Willoughby and Tana Clapham — all made it through to the semifinals.

Malone, who has family in Gisborne, looked the most impressive of them, scoring 14.84 in his heat.

Fourteen-year-old Malone won a title in 2019 but is surfing in a different age category this year. It appears to have had no impact on his performances.

In the u16 girls, Liv Haysom (Piha) and Natasha Gouldsbury (Taranaki) produced the most convincing performances in advancing to the semifinals.

As well as the two titles on offer for the boys and girls, surfers in the u16 divisions will be vying for national selection this year.

The Health 2000 National Surfing Championships is the first event of the New Zealand Grom Series in the build-up to the world junior championships.

Surfers in the senior divisions at the national champs had a day off yesterday but were due to be back in action today.

Organisers moved the event to Karitane for today's surfing and the waves were expected to be about two metres.