The New Zealand surfing championships will be held in Dunedin early next year.
More than 350 surfers will descend on the city to strut their stuff at St Clair Beach from January 7 to 13.
National titles are coveted enough, but the event doubles as the final selection for the New Zealand team for the ISA World Surfing Games Olympic qualifier in Puerto Rico at the end of February.
Getting into the Olympics is set to take surfing back into the mainstream next year.
Piha surfer Dune Kennings is expected to return to defend his open men’s title, but he will be challenged by fellow Piha surfer Elliot Paerata — who won the title when the championships were last held in Dunedin in 2020 — and eight-time champion Billy Stairmand.
The youthful women’s division will be led by national representative and defending champion Pia Rogers (Whangamata).
For the past two years, the average age of the national women’s field has fallen below 18, highlighting the immense talent pool coming through the ranks, and the Dunedin edition of the national event is expected to be no different.
A thriving local surfing community will make the most of the event in home waters.
The likes of Elliot Brown, Josh Thickpenny, Luke Murphy, Hayley Coakes and Jake Owen will contest the open and senior divisions.
Three-time national champion Alexis Owen leads a strong pack of Otago grommets, including Lewis Murphy, Jack Higgins, Flint Sherborne-France, Keo Morrison, Rewa Morrison, Tessa Gabbott and Sari Ayson.
Point Boardriders, of Raglan, will defend the club title they won at Piha this year. This will be hotly contested by several leading clubs from Mount Maunganui, New Plymouth, Auckland, Whangamata, Christchurch and the hometown South Coast Boardriders.
A total of 27 divisions will be contested, including the premier events, age groups from under-14 to over-70, longboard, stand-up paddleboard, bodyboard, kneeboard and adaptive disciplines.
