The premier Open Men and Women divisions take center stage today on the final day of the 2024 National Surfing Championship being held in Dunedin.

National titles are usually reserved for the hardened competitor that has participated in numerous events and honed their competitive skills, yet on Friday it was a first time participant that won the Under 18 Boys Division of the championship.

Widely regarded as a stylish free surfer, Arataki’s surfer Taimana Marupo entered this week's event as his first ever, with no club events, regional events or event experience ever. 

And he came away with the title.

Taimana was joined by Leia Millar who claimed the Under 18 Girls Division at the end of the penultimate day of the event.

Friday’s action was played out at St Clair Beach with small waves of up to 1 metre with light winds yet again giving way to a late afternoon southerly.

Taimana Marupo finished with a 12.95 point heat total for Friday's win.

“I’m super stoked, it’s crazy, it doesn’t feel real,” says Taimana.

“I got that last wave and heard I got the lead and I was just waiting for those last minutes to go by and I was like, man, just hurry up.

“Yeah of course I was thinking about winning when I was coming down here.  My first heat I was real nervous but after that I felt more calm,” says Taimana of his intentions and competitive inexperience.

Ohope surfer Tai Murphy finished second in the final with double finalist Alexis Owen in third place and Spencer Rowson (Tara) finishing in third place after incurring an interference.

Leia Millar (Piha) claimed the Under 18 Girls Division title eventually running away with the win on a 14.0 point heat total.

Two excellently executed backhand waves in the second half of the final were enough to put a considerable gap between her and her opponents.

“At the start we were all kinda getting four point rides then I managed to get that one with a good section and I was really happy about that,” says Leia of her first 7.0 point ride which she backed up with a 7.1 point ride.

“Overall I am really happy to get the title this year and super stoked for it to be in the Under 18 Girls."

Leia Millar - Under 18 Girls Division Champion. Photo: Mark Stevenson.

Leia’s good friend Pia Rogers (WGM) finished in second place in the final after leading the early stages while Sophia Brock (Mnt) finished in third ahead of Poppy Arkle (Piha) in fourth.

Australian based Benji Lowen clinched the Under 16 Boys Division title after tying with defending champion Alexis Owen (Dun).  It was Lowen’s 7.70 point ride as the highest of the final that gave him the nod.  His highest score came via a critical two turn combo tight in the pocket on his forehand that wowed the judges and ultimately edged him past Owen.

Alexis had to settle for second place with Under 14 Boys Champion Sol Fritchley (Mnt) just behind him in third and Remy Sale (Mnt) in fourth.

Alani Morse defended her title in the Under 16 Girls Division. After a slow start to the final, Alani found her rhythm late with a 7.0 and 6.60 point rides.

Morse’s backhand came to the fore again with strong powerful turns as she pushed the boundaries for the girls.

Pauanui surfer Lola Groube finished in second place in the final with Maya Mateja (Rag) in third and the oldest of the Groube sisters Chloe, finishing in fourth place.

Sol Fritchley (Mnt) claimed the Under 14 Boys title in a battle of epic proportions with defending champion Vitor Bauermann (Mnt), Sol Fritchley getting the nod 16.15 points to 15.90 points.  Kentaro Mitchell (Ahipara) finished in third ahead of Zac Becroft (Piha) in fourth.

Dunedin surfer Zara Owen won the Under 14 Girls Division with a 17.5 point heat total.  Pipiata Ritchie (Dun) finished in second place with Jade Phillips in third, Nami Marsden (Mnt) in fourth and Mikayla Secord (Dun) in fifth.

The Volkswagen Highest Single Wave Score of the Day went to Sol Fritchley for the second day in a row after posting not one, but two 9.75 point rides in his semifinal heats.

The penultimate day of the event saw the completion of all junior divisions – Under 14, 16 and 18s before the Open Men and Women take center stage on the final day of the event.

Action takes place from 8am – 5pm daily.  Schedules, live scores and results are available via www.liveheats.com/surfingnz.

Over 350 entries have been received for the event which takes place from Sunday January 7 to Saturday January 13.  It is the ninth time the event has been staged at Dunedin, dating back to 1978.

Raglan’s Point Boardriders are the defending club champions from the 2023 event.  With the event being held in the South Island this year, the likes of hosts South Coast Boardriders will be eager to take the title and challenge perennial front runners including the defending champions, Bay Boardriders and New Plymouth Surfriders.

Also, up for grabs at the 61st Championships is the Peter Byers Overall Performance of the Event Award which was won by Sol Fritchley from Mount Maunganui.

A total of 26 divisions are contested at the event including the premier Open Men and Women plus additional divisions comprising of age groups from Under 14 boys and girls through to Over 70s for males and females and Longboard, Stand Up Paddleboard, Bodyboard, Kneeboard and adaptive disciplines.

The event would not be possible without the support of the following partners: Sport NZ, Volkswagen and Sun Bum. The 2024 National Surfing Championships is proudly hosted by South Coast Boardriders and South Island Surfing Association.

Schedule of events:
Sunday 7 January – Senior Men and Women, Kneeboard
Monday 8 January – Senior Men and Women
Tuesday 9 January – Longboard, Bodyboard, SUP and Junior Boys and Girls
Wednesday 10 January – Junior Boys and Girls
Thursday 11 January – Open Men and Women, Junior Boys and Girls
Friday 12 January – Open Men and Women
Saturday 13 January – Open Men and Women

The 2024 National Surfing Championships commences both the domestic NZ Surf Series, NZ Grom Series and NZ Longboard Series with fifteen events scheduled around the country this summer.

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