Bay Boardriders’ dominant performance, combined with their strong team spirit and strategic approach have secured the Mount Maunganui team victory at this weekend’s national boardriding competition and the opportunity to represent New Zealand at the Usher Cup.

The Surfing New Zealand Boardrider Club Championships kicked off in perfect conditions at Whangamata on Saturday, showcasing the country’s top surfing talent.

Held on the iconic beach break, the event featured a 1 to 1.5-meter swell, clean offshore winds, and sunshine—an ideal day for both competitors and spectators.

Twelve teams competed for the prestigious grand prize: bragging rights as New Zealand’s best surfing club and a chance to represent the country at the Usher Club World Club Championships on the Gold Coast of Australia.

Among them, the returning champions, the Bay Boardriders from Mount Maunganui, aimed to defend their title and solidify their place as one of New Zealand’s elite surf clubs.

The competition began with high intensity, with each team vying for glory.

In the opening heat, Lion Rock Boardriders stole the spotlight with a dramatic last-minute win, posting a solid 29.77 heat total.

Junior surfer Sev Tolhurst set the pace with a 9-point ride, while team captain Zen Wallis added a 6.57 to secure the victory.

Their performance edged out the defending champions, Bay Boardriders, who finished second with a total of 28.60 points.

Maori Bay Boardriders rounded out the top three with 26.24 points.

This heat demonstrated the power of teamwork, blending youthful exuberance with seasoned experience.

Poppy Arkle and Sev Tolhurst from Lion Rock Boardriders with the tag at the 2025 New Zealand Boardrider Club Championships in Whangamata on April 5. Photo/ PhotoCPL.

Lion Rock’s well-rounded approach set the bar high for the day, showing the importance of each team member’s contribution to the result.

In Heat 2, Whangamata Boardriders dominated, posting an impressive 33.03 heat total.

Their strength and local knowledge shone through, with exceptional wave selection and smooth teamwork throughout.

Oakura Boardriders secured second place with 26.07, while Papamoa Boardriders, despite solid efforts, finished in third with 12.77.

Heat 3 saw East Coast Surfriders, led by Jay Quinn, continue their dominance.

With a consistent and strategic approach, East Coast claimed the win, leaving Keyhole Boardriders from Piha in second.

Keyhole, eager to reclaim the trophy they won in 2021, gave a strong performance, but East Coast’s strategy proved superior. Waihi Beach Boardriders placed third with 24.33 points.

Heat 4 featured the reigning 2022 champions, Point Boardriders, who had a star-studded lineup, including Olympian Billy Stairmand.

Point Boardriders showed their experience and skill, winning the heat with a strong overall performance. New Plymouth Surfriders placed second with 26.87 points, and North Coast Boardriders finished third with 22.97.

As the competition continued, the dropping swell and incoming tide led to an exciting change in format, with the event transitioning to an on-the-beach tag format, adding another layer of thrill to an already action-packed day.

The championship semi-finals upped the stakes, as performances intensified.

In the first semi-final, Bay Boardriders, who had been consistently strong throughout the day, triumphed with a solid 28.59 heat total.

Their consistency and wave selection were key to their victory, despite a valiant effort from Lion Rock.

Lion Rock, unable to replicate their strong opening heat performance, finished second with 25.90 points.

Whangamata Boardriders, struggling to find waves and missing the mark on time, suffered a 5-point penalty, placing them out of contention in 4th.

Oakura Boardriders also couldn’t keep pace, finishing last in this semi-final.

In the second semi-final, East Coast Surfriders continued their strong run. Their well-rounded, aggressive approach to the waves earned them another win, topping the heat once again.

Point Boardriders, riding momentum from earlier heats, placed second with a 24.43 heat total.

Despite an early lead, Keyhole Boardriders struggled to capitalize, finishing third with 22.33 points.

New Plymouth Surfriders, despite a solid effort, ended their championship journey with a fourth-place finish, posting 20.74 points.

With the semi-finals complete, attention turned to the Plate Final, which featured Maori Bay Boardriders, Waihi Beach Boardriders, Papamoa Boardriders, and Northcoast Boardriders.

Conditions had shifted, with a drop in swell, making for a thrilling final heat.

Maori Bay started strong, posting a 6.3 and a 7.5 early on, but struggled to find higher scores as the heat progressed.

Northcoast Boardriders, chasing a 5.45 with just minutes remaining, created some suspense as the lead changed hands multiple times throughout the heat.

In the final stretch, Maori Bay found the critical wave they needed to secure the win in dramatic fashion.

The final heat of the day was always going to be a battle for the ages, with Point Boardriders, East Coast Surfriders, and Bay Boardriders all vying for victory.

Bay Boardriders emerged triumphant in a nail-biting finish, claiming their third consecutive victory. Tim O’Connor set the tone early with a solid 7.33, and the team followed suit with consistent scores in the 5 to 7 range across their junior, female, open, and senior surfers.

This left the other teams scrambling to catch up.

Point Boardriders came closest, needing an 8.56 in the dying minutes to take the lead. Alani Morse did everything she could, finding a 5.27 and a 6 to improve her position, but it wasn’t enough to overtake Bay Boardriders.

Lion Rock also put on a solid performance but couldn’t make a late push for the win, finishing third.

Lion Rock’s captain, Zen Wallis, was proud of his team’s performance.

“We grew from strength to strength, refining our strategy and getting better with every round,” Wallis said.

“Making it to the final feels like a win, especially in such great conditions with mates. We’ll be back next year, and congrats to Bay for their victory. Good luck in the Usher Cup—I hope you bring it home.”

Bay Boardriders’ captain OB shared his excitement for their third victory.

“We’re stoked to take it for the third time, especially with the calibre of surfers who showed up,” OB said.

“Having Maz, Jay, and Holly Quinn, and Billy Stairmand turn up made it even more special. Our solid core support crew made all the difference. It’s a huge win for us as a team. Surfing may be individual, but in this format, you’re winning for everyone.

“We can’t wait to head to the Usher Cup again. It’s an incredible event, and even the CT surfers say it’s one of the year’s highlights,” said OB.

“The team format is sick,” Bay Boardriders member Alex Dive said.

“There’s a lot of pressure because you don’t want to let the team down, but that’s what makes it fun. We had to hit the ground running in our first heat, which made for an awesome day.”

Organisers said Bay Boardriders’s victory showcased not only their individual talents “but also the incredible camaraderie and teamwork present in New Zealand’s boardrider clubs”.

“The event highlighted the exceptional talent across the country’s boardrider clubs, with intense competition from start to finish,” organisers said.

“From the opening heat to the final, the competition was a testament to the skill and dedication of New Zealand’s surf community.”

All participants are now eagerly anticipating next year’s championship.

For complete results from the 2025 New Zealand Boardrider Club Championships, presented by Trillian Trust, visit LiveHeats Results.

Team Standings 

1. Bay
2. Point
3. Lion Rock
4. East Coast Surfriders
5. Maori Bay
6. Northcoast
7. Waihi Beach
8. Papamoa
9. Whangamata
10. Keyhole
11. Oakura
12. New Plymouth