Alaia Mattingly, a year 2 pupil at St Clair School, won the under-10 mixed grade at the Otago Surfing Championships at Blackhead Beach over the weekend.
It was not a two-horse race; she had to beat a field of about 20 young surfers - both boys and girls - to win the event.
Alaia's mother, Tash Mattingly, said Alaia was second in her heat and went through to the final in which she took on five other youngsters.
With parents out helping the children, Alaia managed to catch two good waves, one of them not in the wash, which had her win the title. Amazingly, she was not the youngest in the field as a 4-year-old was competing.
Alaia had been in the water almost since birth and loved to get out among the waves.
Admittedly the weather had not always been great this summer but she has still has been out on the water every chance she gets.
With another few years in the division, she has more than a decent chance of repeating as champion.
