Inspiration

Meet the people who weave life into the fabric of surfing. We profile interesting characters with an amazing story and an obsession with the ocean. Read about up and coming surfers and crusty old locals who smell like billy goats and ride single fins. If they have a story to tell, you’ll find them in here. Come and be inspired by artists, business gurus and thought leaders in our well of inspiration.

COVID-19 Lockdown: New Zealand Surfers Asked To Help In Crisis

Derek MorrisonMarch 26, 2020

by Derek MorrisonMarch 26, 20200

New Zealand’s surfing communities have been asked to stay out of the water for at least the next four weeks to play their role in curbing the transmission of Coronavirus COVID-19. While it’s a hard pill to swallow and certainly not a well-communicated component of the lockdown, leading surfing communities......

Breaking News: Piha Pro Postponed

Derek MorrisonMarch 13, 2020March 13, 2020

by Derek MorrisonMarch 13, 2020March 13, 20200

The 2020 Corona Piha Pro has been postponed as World Surf League puts into action its sweeping reaction to the Coronavirus pandemic, halting all of its March events throughout the world. The Corona Piha Pro organisers apologised to stakeholders, residents, surfers and fans in a statement released today. “We ask......

Grom Series Champions Crowned By Occy And Ryan Callinan

Derek MorrisonFebruary 24, 2020

by Derek MorrisonFebruary 24, 20200

Six young series champions were crowned by Australian surfing legends Mark “Occy” Occhilupo and Ryan Callinan at the Billabong Grom Series presented by Oceanbridge, which concluded at Piha, Auckland yesterday. The culmination of three events was played out in solid 1.5m waves with strong cross-shore winds offering up new challenges......

Elliot Paerata-Reid Makes Final At Great Lakes Pro, Billy Stairmand Third

Derek MorrisonFebruary 24, 2020

by Derek MorrisonFebruary 24, 20200

Elliot Paerata-Reid and Billy Stairmand have kicked off their 2020 World Qualifying Series campaigns in stellar form, both landing in the same semi-final heat. Paerata-Reid managed to repeat his effort from the Nationals in Dunedin, holding off an in-form Stairmand to book his finals berth at Boomerang Beach, Great Lakes,......

Inspiration Latest News New Zealand Surf Athletes

Piha Pro: A Spectator’s Guide

Derek MorrisonFebruary 17, 2020February 17, 2020

by Derek MorrisonFebruary 17, 2020February 17, 20200

Here’s the cheat sheet on how you can best soak up the atmosphere of the Corona Piha Pro when it rolls into Piha from March 15-22. Firstly, there is a Piha Pro Junior that takes place on March 14 for the men and women. It’s stop number 7 on the......

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Four-Time World Champion Carissa Moore Confirmed For Piha Pro

Derek MorrisonFebruary 17, 2020February 17, 2020

by Derek MorrisonFebruary 17, 2020February 17, 20200

Reigning World Champion Carissa Moore has confirmed that she will compete at the inaugural Corona Piha Pro in New Zealand in March. The Hawaiian became the youngest ever surfing World Champion when she claimed her first title in 2011 at the age of 18, before taking the title again in......

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Billy Stairmand: Inside The Mind Of Our Olympic Hope

Derek MorrisonFebruary 14, 2020

by Derek MorrisonFebruary 14, 20200

He’s New Zealand’s Olympic hope for 2020, but only a few short years ago, Billy Stairmand was struggling to light his competitive fire. Now he’s in the best form of his life. This is how the 30-year-old Raglan surfer rebuilt his career. As the World Surf League Qualifying Series came......

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Athletes Confirmed For Piha Pro Trials

Derek MorrisonFebruary 13, 2020February 13, 2020

by Derek MorrisonFebruary 13, 2020February 13, 20201

Surfing New Zealand selects country’s top surfers for the Sky Sport New Zealand Trials taking place in the lead up to the World Surf League Corona Piha Pro. This is an impressive line-up in the men’s and women’s competitions. Who is your money on? The trials will take place on......

Featured Inspiration Surf Athletes

Kai Lenny Stuns The World At Nazaré

Derek MorrisonFebruary 12, 2020February 12, 2020

by Derek MorrisonFebruary 12, 2020February 12, 20200

Hawaiian Kai Lenny has continued his incredible run of form at the Nazaré Tow Surfing Challenge, which ran today in massive waves at Praia do Norte, in Nazaré, Portugal. He was joined on the winner’s dais by women’s best wave winner Justine Dupont. The Nazaré Tow Surfing Challenge presented by......

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Surfer Pulled From Water Unconscious During Nazaré Tow Challenge

Derek MorrisonFebruary 12, 2020February 12, 2020

by Derek MorrisonFebruary 12, 2020February 12, 20200

Portugese surfer Alex Botelho drowns during closing minutes of the Nazaré Tow Surfing Challenge. He is then revived in a dramatic rescue by the WSL big wave safety team on the beach at Praia do Norte in Nazaré, Portugal. Botelho, competing with team Portugal, was pulled lifeless from the water......