Westport delivers yet another day of sunshine and waves in the 2-3 foot range for Day 3 of the 2022 New Zealand Surfing Championships.
With temperatures soaring and favourable wave conditions most of the day the event extended into the early evening to get through the required heats. Standouts include local ripper Jai Earnshaw who is relaxing into his contest flow at the nationals, posting the highest wave score with a 9.43 thanks to two top-to-bottom bangers in his age-group heat.
Levi Stewart continues to be the silent achiever with Caleb Cutmore taking to the air to signal his intention to get his hands on the cup. Both of them will have to het through Billy Stairmand who is not shy in showing what he learnt this year in his QS, Challenger Series and Olympic campaigns. He’s on a whole other level and it will take some magic to deny him title number nine. New arrivals include Spencer Rowson who just keeps turning heads.
In the women’s Paige Hareb looks determined to claim her first ever New Zealand title despite a slew of young surfers nipping at her heels. Like Billy, she was masterful in her quarterfinal match-up today.
Here’s what went down in 40 Frames:
The T Bay Arena.Travel buddies: Brie and Ariana.Billy Stairmand masterful in his 20-minute heat.Tao Mouldey on fire.Natasha Gouldsbury pre heat nerves.The man to beat in the Under 18s: Spencer Rowson.Sam Sands into the QFs.Big support for Spencer Rowson.Ava Henderson knows she needs the big turns.Kalani Louis riled up.Brie Bennett.Zen Wallis throwing tail.Tessa and Jane Gabbott pre heat.Spencer Rowson on a mission.Rakiatea Tau on form.Liv Haysom in the shade.Liv Haysom making some critical turns.Lewis Murphy into the U18 final.Caleb Cutmore goes to the air.Tail waft: Tao Mouldey.Rock groms.Anna Brock on rail.Billie Scott warming up.Local girl Lenka Cargill.Georgia Wederell.Ava Henderson finds her rhythm.Tao Mouldey off the top.Will Hardie with mum Sooz.Billie Scott loving the conditions.Paige Hareb has her eyes on the silverware.Ava Henderson.Jack Tyro ripping into QFs.Ariana Shewry.Jay Piper-Healion looks to be rising.Zen Wallis plays guitar, too.Manu Roberts stepped it up in Westport.Mathias Thompson gets a hug from mum.Part of the Dunedin crew.Tao Mouldey hits the lipManu Roberts.Jake Owen tail sliding in his heat.Spencer Rowson.Tao Mouldey on form.Jack Tyro.