Teen Pardoe follows in footsteps of Gisborne greats at surfing nationals

Gisborne's Jaxon Pardoe is carried across the beach after winning the Under-14 boys' final at the New Zealand surfing championships in Taranaki on Thursday. Photo / PhotoCPL

A new era in Gisborne surfing emerged at the national championships in Taranaki on Thursday.

Jaxon Pardoe followed in the footsteps of some of Gisborne’s most famous surfing names with victory in the Under-14 boys’ final at the Stent Rd break near New Plymouth.

Pardoe, who won the Y7/8 boys’ title at the NZ primary school champs in Gisborne last year, pipped Ffeon Clifford by just half a point in a thrilling four-man final featuring three Mount surfers against Gisborne’s Pardoe.

Clifford led on 14.50 (7.57, 6.93) for his two best waves only for Pardoe to produce the ride of the final with his last wave - an 8.83 to go along with a 6.17 effort - to leap to 15.00 and snatch the title from his opponent’s grasp.

Beau Broadhust was third on 11.77 and Haru Madsen was fourth on 11.53.

Pardoe added to Gisborne’s list of champions in the U14 age group at the nationals, such as Ricardo Christie (2001, 2002) and Jay Quinn (1996, 1997).

Both of them went on to win the open men’s crown and compete professionally - Christie up to the highest level on the world tour.

Pardoe was one of six junior champions crowned on Thursday.

Mount Maunganui’s Tao Mouldey won the U18 boys’ title; Piha’s Leia Millar the U18 girls; Vitor Bauermann (Mt Maung) the U16 boys; Australia-based Brisa Canina (Coolum) the U16 girls; and Zara Owen (Dunedin) the U14 girls with a sublime 19.17 in her final including a perfect 10-point ride.

The open men and open women were in action on Friday.