For the first time in its 50-year history, the World Surf League has brought both its men’s and women’s Championship Tours to New Zealand.
The fourth stop on the Championship Tour (CT) will take place at Raglan’s Manu Bay from May 15-25. Three Kiwis have earned the opportunity to line up against some of the world’s best.
A two-time Olympian, nine-time national champion and long-time battler on the World Surf League’s qualification and challenger series, he has never quite been able to make that final step up to secure CT qualification.
But, as the top-ranked New Zealand surfer from the most recent edition of the challenger series, Stairmand earned a wildcard entry into the milestone Raglan event.
Not only is he ticking off a major goal in his career, Stairmand gets to do so at his home break.
“I’m pretty excited to put on the rashie and represent my community and my family and my country as well here in New Zealand, in my backyard,” Stairmand said.
“It’ll probably all sink in after I surf my first heat tomorrow, put my rashie on officially and give it my all. But yeah, I’m kind of just enjoying the process.”
Stairmand will meet Australian Morgan Cibilic, who is currently ranked No 29 on the CT standings, in his round-one heat.
“I’ve actually competed with Morgs for a while, probably travelled with him a couple times,” Stairmand said.
“It doesn’t really matter to me who I’ve got in my heat. This is my backyard and I just want to do the best surfing I can do. Obviously, I’m looking to win. I want to really go deep into the event and I believe I can.”
Just 15 years old, Morse is currently in year 12 at Raglan Area School. But she’ll soak up knowledge of a different kind over the coming days when she takes her place in the women’s draw.
Morse earned her spot by winning the annual Queen of the Point competition at Manu Bay late last month, with that event doubling as the trial for the CT event wildcard.
Although she is still young, Morse is no stranger to competition. She estimates she has been competing since she was just 5 years old, and her calmness under pressure was clear when she won the trial – scoring a title-winning wave in the final minutes of the heat.
“I’m just really excited. I thought I was going to be a bit more nervous and maybe a bit more, I don’t know, scared ... but I’m actually feeling really good. I’m just getting inspired the whole time and I feel like I’m already improving so far,” she said.
Morse will take on world No 12 Bettylou Sakura Johnson, of Hawaii, in her opening round heat. Johnson got her first opportunity on the CT as a wildcard in 2020 where she made it through to the round of 16. Morse was hopeful of pulling off a similar performance on debut.
“I’m just going to give it my all. Hopefully the local knowledge comes into play. I think it will. The conditions are going to be quite tricky; not bad, but they’ll be a bit hard to read the next few days.”
With so much support for Stairmand and Morse on the ground in Raglan, it has felt as though Butland has been the odd one out.
Making the trip north from Oakura, Taranaki, the 24-year-old earned his spot in the line-up through the same route as Morse – winning the King of the Point competition at Manu Bay.
Injuries kept him out of the water for much of last year, however he returned to the waves with intent this year and will look to carry on that form on the biggest stage in the sport.
“I’m feeling quite good out there. I mean, we’ve got a lot of point breaks at home in Taranaki. It’s going left, just working out the wave and the timing’s the most important thing.”
Butland will compete against South African Luke Thompson, who is ranked at No 32 on the CT, in his round-one elimination heat.
“He’s been surfing really well. I’ve seen him surf out here the last couple days and he surfs really good backside,” Butland said of Thompson.
“[I’m] just going to stick to my plan, try stick to my strengths and surf a clean heat and I think I’ll be happy with myself if I can click on a few waves and surf to my potential.”
Christopher Reive joined the Herald sports team in 2017, bringing the same versatility to his coverage as he does to his sports viewing habits.