surf athletes Archives - New Zealand Surf Journal

The 10 Best Surfers In New Zealand In 2023

Derek MorrisonDec 30, 2022December 30, 20220

New Zealand Surf Journal asks the New Zealand surfing industry to rank our 10 best surfers. The concept is simple: include not just the best competitors, but also our very best free surfers and underground chargers. This is who they came up with as we head into 2023. THE CRITERIA...

Watch: Flightless Obsession

Derek MorrisonSep 20, 2020September 25, 20200

Flightless Obsession features New Zealand’s elite surfers such as provisional Olympic qualifiers Billy Stairmand and Ella Williams along with dozens of the country’s best surfers in a scrapbook-style edit. It is the first crowd-sourced surf movie that Surfing New Zealand has embarked upon to showcase local talent. It has been...

WSL Unveils New Championship Tour Format For 2021

Derek MorrisonJul 18, 2020July 18, 20200

On the back of cancelling the 2020 World Championship Tour and Qualifying Series seasons, World Surf League has today unveiled a radical new format for the Championship Tour. To be introduced for the 2021 season that starts at the end of 2020, the WSL Championship Tour will see key format changes....

WSL Cancels 2020 Championship Tour

Derek MorrisonJul 18, 2020July 18, 20200

The World Surf League has today announced the cancellation of the 2020 Championship Tour season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Citing the health and safety of athletes, fans, employees, and local communities as the WSL’s top priorities, along with the challenges of international travel, the organisation has today cancelled the...

Billy Stairmand Wins Gold Coast Open

Derek MorrisonMay 12, 2019July 30, 20190

Raglan’s Billy Stairmand has won the 2019 Gold Coast Open today taking down Lennox Head’s Stuart Kennedy in a thrilling final in peeling 2-3ft waves at Burleigh Point. Crowds swarmed to the Burleigh Hill in the thousands to witness some world-class surfing in the natural amphitheater that is Burleigh Point...

We Rank The 10 Best Surfers In New Zealand Right Now

Derek MorrisonFeb 27, 2019July 2, 20200

New Zealand Surf Journal asks the New Zealand surfing industry to rank our 10 best surfers. The concept is simple: include not just the best competitors, but also our very best free surfers and underground chargers. This is who they came up with. THE CRITERIA Surfers are assessed based on...

Ricardo Christie vs Billy Stairmand: Taranaki Turns On For Health 2000 National Champs

Derek MorrisonJan 11, 2019March 1, 20190

Perfect Taranaki waves laid the platform for New Zealand’s top surfers as the contest whittled down to the semifinalists at the Health 2000 National Surfing Championships held at grunty Stent Road this week. The head-to-head battle between WQS regular Billy Stairmand and good friend and WCT qualifier for 2019, Ricardo...