Surf champs find sponsor on waves

The South Island Surf Champs was in a bit of trouble until a chance meeting on the waves at a Dunedin beach led to a sponsor being found.

The competition, which is being held at St Clair Beach from tomorrow until Monday, was looking for sponsors after Emerson’s dropped off as the main sponsor — instead becoming a minor sponsor because the brand had concerns about sponsoring a sports event.

Then a chance meeting on the waves led to health provider Te Kāika taking over as major sponsors.

Te Kāika chief executive Matt Matahaere said it was a natural fit to become the main sponsors and support the competition.

"We are based in the South Dunedin area. A lot of the whanau that use our service will also use our beaches, go surfing, go swimming, be a part of the community, so it’s just being a part of the community events," Mr Matahaere said.

South Coast Boardriders president Johnny de Graaf approached him when they were out in the water at Blackhead surfing beach and said it was looking for sponsors late in February.

"I went and had a chat with my directors and said this could be a kaupapa [values] we could support and that’s how it kind of started," Mr Matahaere said.

Mr de Graaf was pleased to have a major sponsor for the event.

"We were in a bit of trouble. We didn’t have a major sponsor, we were still going to run the event but just have a real low budget one and very little prize money."

With Te Kāika stepping in as major sponsors, the prize money for the open men’s and open women’s is a $1200 cheque, and a brand new surfboard each for under-16 boys’ and girls’ competitions.

Overall there was over $12,000 worth in cash prizes and four trophies for each of the 17 divisions up for grabs.

Apart from the prizes, the competition had also stepped up in rank.

"We’re going to a two-star event, which is a $2000 event, which means it’s a rated event and it’s going to get some of the top surfers from the North Island coming down.

"We’ve got young Lexi Owen who won the under-14 and under-16 national titles this year, who’s a very hot young surfer and someone to look out for," Mr de Graaf said.

The audience could expect to find a good view of the competition from anywhere on the Esplanade this weekend.

"We’ve got such a good amphitheatre for it. We’re perfectly set up, probably best in the country if not one of the better places in the world to watch a surf event."