Young athletes excel in chosen pursuits

Johnny Andrew congratulates NZ Surf Bros team members Vinnie Hutchinson, Taj Broughton and Kalani Hansen on their recent results.

Kaitaia surf shop owner Johnny Andrew said he was very stoked to see a trio of young local athletes signed to his New Zealand Surf Bros team excelling in their chosen pursuits.

Recent accomplishments included skater Vinnie Hutchinson winning the Ramse Skate Competition in Kaitaia earlier this month, and surfer Kalani Hansen finishing runner up in the Polar Bear surf contest at Sandy Bay on the same weekend.

Andrew also presented both Hansen and fellow Ahipara natural-footer Taj Broughton with brand new Rip Curl wetsuits in recognition of their selection into the Northland team competing at the national scholastics surfing championships in Gisborne in early October.

The pair are the only Far North surfers in the squad.

"It's good to know the guys on the team are performing," Andrew said.

- The team to represent Northland in Gisborne at the National Scholastics in Gisborne from October 3-7 is, U18s, boys: Kalani Hansen (Kaitaia College), Jamahl Moselen (Raglan Area School), girls: Billie Scott (Whangarei Girls); U16s, boys: Max Brunker (Whangarei Boys), Tom Norton (Bream Bay), Tom Parker (Huanui), Joseph Critchfield (Rodney), girls: Grace Pevats (Whangarei Girls)' U14s, boys: Taj Broughton (Kaitaia), Cory Vercoe (Rodney), Jacob Buckle (Huanui), and longboard: Bassie Waldron (Rodney) with travelling reserve: Billy Gilbert (Whangarei Boys). Coach is Jaimie Scott, manager Mark Pevats.