Get ready to be amazed! Young surfers are making waves and rewriting the record books at the 2026 National Surfing Championships. This year's event in Gisborne was nothing short of spectacular, showcasing incredible talent and some truly unexpected victories.
Mount Maunganui's Jaxon Willows and Taranaki’s Izaro Williamson-Sasia stole the show with a rare 'double double'. This means they not only won their respective junior divisions but also stunned everyone by taking home the senior longboarding titles. Imagine the dedication and skill! This remarkable feat hasn't been seen often; in fact, it was last achieved in 2022 by Christchurch surfer Jack Tyro.
Willows, just 17 years old, battled through a grueling day, surfing four heats before facing off against seasoned longboarding veterans. Australian-based Jordan Griffin put up a good fight, finishing as the runner-up. Meanwhile, Gisborne's former champions, Dylan Barnfield and Daniel Procter, had to settle for third and fourth place, respectively.
On the women's side, 14-year-old Williamson-Sasia impressed with a fantastic performance, including a clean nose ride and flawless footwork, earning her a score of 6.27 points out of a possible 10. With a heat total of 10.94 points, she beat Ariana Walker. Jay Ryan came in third, and Te Waiotu of Gisborne took fourth place.
These four titles were just a glimpse of the 15 awarded throughout the day. Defending stand-up paddleboard champions Karlos Aarsen and Stella Smith maintained their dominance, while Matt Scorringe secured his second senior men's title, this time in the over-30 men's category. Scorringe's strategy of hunting left-handers and switching between forehand and backhand surfing paid off, as he started with an 8.0-point ride and followed it up with a 7.40, leading the entire final. He triumphed over Blair Stewart, Nick White, and Logan Mills.
In the senior women's divisions, Lou Aitken won the over-30 title, and Claire Youmans took the over-40 division. Rachel Ormsby and Gaylene Sayer also celebrated victories in the over-50 and over-60 women's divisions, respectively.
But here's where it gets controversial... Maz Quinn outmaneuvered his younger brother Jay to win the over-40 men's division, with a final heat total of 14.27 points. Matt Bennett won the over-50 men's division, while Steve “Teddy” Colbert's victory in the over-60s division was especially heartwarming, marking his first national title since 1984! Gary Stevenson claimed the over-70 men's title, and bodyboard titles went to Michael Williams and Gisiele Summerton.
With nearly 400 entries across 28 divisions, the event highlights the incredible diversity of surfing disciplines, from shortboard to adaptive surfing, with competitors ranging from under-14s to over-70s. The competition is fierce, and the talent is undeniable.
And this is the part most people miss... The event is the first of eight national events around the New Zealand coastline as part of the Epic Break summer campaign. The 2026 nationals are hosted by Gisborne Boardriders Club alongside Trust Tairāwhiti, with support from various event partners.
Competition runs daily from 8 am to 5 pm, with the open men's and women's finals expected to take place on Saturday, January 17. The surf conditions are expected to remain clean all day with northwest winds. The event also features special awards, including the top boardrider club and the Peter Byers Trophy for outstanding performance.
What do you think of these incredible achievements? Do you agree that the young surfers are the future of the sport? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
