Inspiration - Page 20 of 39 - New Zealand Surf Journal

Saffi Vette’s Olympic Campaign Comes To An End

Derek MorrisonJun 4, 2021July 25, 20240

Nineteen-year-old Gisborne surf star, Saffi Vette, has ended her run to the Tokyo Olympics this morning, falling in solid, challenging conditions in El Salvador. Surfing in the 4th heat of Repechage 5, Saffi and fellow WQS campaigner Ellie Turner, from Great Britain, were bettered by Carolina Mendes, of Portugal, and...

Five Minutes With: Surfing New Zealand’s Ben Kennings

Derek MorrisonMay 26, 2021July 25, 20240

With New Zealand’s competitive season coming to a close we put some tough questions to Surfing New Zealand’s Ben Kennings. Is Surfing New Zealand headed in the right direction? Are we looking after our athletes? Are we providing a pathway? Ben Kennings gives us an insight into what the off-season...

Paige Hareb, Saffi Vette Chasing Olympic Qualification In El Salvador

Derek MorrisonMay 26, 2021July 25, 20240

Traveling while the world is flaring with Covid 19 is never an easy decision to make, but if Olympic qualification is top of your goals, then you have very little choice. New Zealand Surf Journal catches up with Paige Hareb and Saffi Vette as they begin their journey at the...

Taylor Hutchison, Ava Henderson Seal Series At Super 16

Derek MorrisonMay 18, 2021July 25, 20240

Taylor Hutchison, of Raglan, and Ava Henderson, of Christchurch, had sewn up the the overall New Zealand Surf Series prior to the final event after dominant season-long performances. The final Super 16 event at Piha saw a maiden victory for local surfer Dune Kennings, in front of a vociferous local...

Finn Vette, Ava Henderson Win Super 16 Groms

Derek MorrisonMay 18, 2021July 25, 20240

It took eleven events to separate the top junior surfers in New Zealand with the final New Zealand Super 16, presented by Skinnies and Volkswagen, determining the overall winners of the NZ Grom Series held at Piha over the weekend. Gisborne’s Finn Vette was locked in a season-long battle with...

Ricardo Christie and Ava Henderson Win Backdoor Taranaki Pro

Derek MorrisonMay 3, 2021July 25, 20240

Ricardo Christie and Ava Henderson have claimed big victories in Taranaki yesterday, winning the Backdoor Taranaki Pro, presented by Billabong, in excellent conditions at Stent Road. It was the first Open Women’s win for Henderson since her breakthrough performance at the 2020 National Championships 16 months ago, while Christie has...

Inside The Swell Of The Year … So Far

Derek MorrisonApr 16, 2021July 25, 20240

The Southern Ocean is choked with swell energy right now, but it was an early season long-period pulse that turned the Southern reefs inside out. Dave Lyons managed to document one of the best sessions to take place in the south east corner of our country … so far. Dave...

Five Minutes With Anna Brock

Derek MorrisonApr 1, 2021July 25, 20240

From a stellar run at the 2021 Nationals to a string of top results in the Billabong Grom Series, 16-year-old Anna Brock, is on a performance surge right now. We sit down with the Mount Maunganui-based surfer right before her Under 16 final at the Billabong Grom Comp at Whangamata....

Lee Ralph: The Kiwi Skateboarder Who Vanished

Derek MorrisonApr 1, 2021July 25, 20240

In the late 1980s, New Zealand skateboarder Lee Ralph had the world at his feet. But right when he seemed poised to join the sport’s elite, he was kicked out of the US … and out of the limelight for good. Our friends at The Spinoff have given us permission...

40 Frames: The Duke Festival of Surfing

Derek MorrisonMar 22, 2021July 25, 20240

There are very few surfing events that really buck the trend and blow their participants and spectators away. Even fewer deserve the “festival” monicker, but The Duke Festival takes the challenge by the short and curlies and knocks it right out of the park. Many years ago local Christchurch surf...