during Day 4 at the 2022 New Zealand Surfing Championships held at Tauranga Bay, Westport, New Zealand.
Westport’s charm just keeps on giving to the 2022 New Zealand Surfing National Championships, which chalked up day four of five today at Tauranga Bay.
Picturesque Tauranga Bay turns it on for Day 4 at the 2022 NZ Surfing National Championships. Photo: Derek Morrison
Despite the dropping swell, T Bay proved to be the dependable contest venue with somewhere in the vicinity of 35 heats surfed in a 12-hour period.
Whittling down to finals day the small conditions saw several big upsets with local charger Jai Earnshaw knocked out of the open final along with the most likely surfer to challenge Billy Stairmand in the air: Caleb Cutmore. The Open Men’s final will see Billy Stairmand pitted against fellow 2022 WQS campaigner Levi Stewart, Daniel Farr and form surfer of the event: Reuben Woods.
In the Open Women’s final Paige Hareb will once again meet young rising star Ava Henderson for the showdown. They last met in the final at Piha where Saffi Vette denied Paige her maiden title. Looking to deny her this year will also be Raglan’s Brie Bennett and young breakthrough Whangamata star Pia Rogers in her first Open Women’s final.
Finals day anticipates a small swell with favourable winds at Tauranga Bay.
With the Under 14s and longboards dominating Day 4 here’s how it all went down in 40 Frames:
Dawn, Day 4.Will Jamieson, casual as.Caleb Cutmore unlucky not to make the Open Men’s final.Longboard girls. Tui Rudolph: all style.Ben and Torah Kennings: pre heat pep talk..Alexis Owen on his way to a perfect 10.Gabi Paul behind the rock.The Kennings family.Will Jamieson on a bomb.Morning supporters.Zen Wallis on form. Busy day on the rocks.Billy wafting the tail.Locals Lenka and Cargs.Jay Piper-Healion narrowly misses a finals berth.Ava and Natasha on the longboards.Geordie Sawyer scuffing Whale Rock.Dion Findlay, a local favourite.Standout U14s surfer, Remy Sale.Caleb gouging for a final’s berth. Estella Hungerford on a runner.Jack Tyro prepares for his longboard heat.Stella Smith into a nice right.First ones out.Levi Stewart could be the big challenge on finals day.Jesse Frazerhurst in the Under 14s.Donna Henderson finding the gems.Local ripper Jai Earnshaw.Charlie Wise behind the crowd.Bilbo happily inverted. Daniel Farr into the finals. Camp Gouldsbury.Clinical Levi Stewart.Brie Bennett into the Open Women’s final.Kyra and Phil Wallis. The toughest job of the event: priority.The Higgins’ clanKeo Morrison in a battle in the U14s.Jai Wallis.Ava will be looking for a big showdown on Saturday.Dawn.Rmy Sale with his team.Jack Higgins off the top.Team Gabbott.India Kennings ripping through her U14 semis.The Kennings with Leia Millar.Huge thanks to the people of Westport for the outstanding hospitality and welcoming the event.