Derek Morrison

Taranaki Dominate Nationals: Paige Hareb And Daniel Farr Crowned

Derek MorrisonJan 16, 2022December 5, 20220

Taranaki surfers Paige Hareb and Daniel Farr both claimed their first titles in the premier Open Women’s and Men’s Divisions at the 2022 National Surfing Championships completed at Nine Mile Beach on Saturday. The final showdown of the five-day event was relocated to Nine Mile Beach where participants were met...

40 Frames: Westport Nats Finals Day

Derek MorrisonJan 16, 2022December 5, 20220

Finals day moves to Nine Mile Beach as the swell that has given so much all week abates and a building north swell fills in at the 2022 New Zealand Surfing National Championships held at Westport. Finals day never disappoints on these big occasions with Daniel Farr and Billy Stairmand...

40 Frames: Westport Nats Day 4

Derek MorrisonJan 14, 2022December 5, 20220

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. 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...

40 Frames: Westport Nats Day 3

Derek MorrisonJan 13, 2022December 5, 20220

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...

40 Frames: Westport Nats Day 2

Derek MorrisonJan 12, 2022December 5, 20220

With another warm day, plenty of sunshine and a pulsing swell bringing 2-3 foot waves to Tauranga Bay, Westport the top surfers wasted no time in stamping their authority in the lineup. The day started with an impressive display from sisters Anna and Sophia Brock, who went 1-2 in the...

Westport Nats Day 2: Top Seeds Dominate

Derek MorrisonJan 12, 2022December 5, 20220

The top seeds in the premier Open Men’s division got their campaigns off to a flying start on Day 2 at the 2022 National Surfing Championships held today at Tauranga Bay, Westport. Led by Raglan’s Billy Stairmand, seven of eight top seeds advanced through to the quarterfinals and will take...

40 Frames: 2022 Westport Nats Day 1

Derek MorrisonJan 11, 2022December 5, 20220

Sunshine and a pumping swell greet competitors at the opening day of the 2022 New Zealand Surfing Nationals held at Westport, Buller. Day one sets up an exciting set of scenarios for the nationals with Paige Hareb and Ava Henderson destined to square off in a field full of potential...

Leap Of Faith: Billy Stairmand

Derek MorrisonDec 26, 2021December 26, 20210

The journey of Billy Stairmand in 2021 is astounding. From fundraising just to get to the Australian qualification series, to the highs and lows of the inaugural surfing event at the Olympics to a frantic run through the Challenger Series – and all while never knowing when, or if, he...

South Island Grom Series Fires Up In Dunedin

Derek MorrisonDec 13, 2021December 5, 20220

Rewa Morrison and Jack Tyro have taken out the premier Under 18 divisions at the opening round of the 2022 South Island Grom Series held in Dunedin at the weekend. The event is a welcome back to competition for the younger surfers after Covid scuttled both the Scholastics Surfing Championships...

We’re Testing: DHD Phoenix EPS

Derek MorrisonDec 9, 2021December 9, 20210

Can Darren Handley’s Phoenix EPS breath life back into a 40-something’s small-wave froth? Well, it worked for Mick Fanning. We’ve been looking for this board for a long time … but does it meet our small-wave expectations? Like a lot of surfers in their 40s and with a bunch of...