Surf Athletes
We all like to think we are surfers who “could have” made it. These surf athletes actually are making it. From underground heroes to rising groms – this is where we lay bare the best talent in the country.
Brazil’s Filipe Toledo has finally realised his dream of winning a World Title when he defeated fellow Brazilian Italo Ferreira in the Rip Curl WSL Finals held at Lower Trestles, California this week. Twenty-seven-year-old Toledo has spent the previous nine years of his career battling with the world’s best surfers.......
Australia’s Stephanie Gilmore has become the winningest female surfer ever when she won the 2022 World Title in four-to-six foot conditions at Lower Trestles in San Clemente, California this week. The historic day marked Gilmore’s eighth World Title, making her the winningest women’s surfer in the sport. Domination and determination......
Taranaki’s next rising star, Natasha Gouldsbury, hit her straps in the early part of 2022. Not only did she qualify for three finals at the 2022 Nationals held at Westport, but she started to wind in Christchurch phenom Ava Henderson. At 17 she’s surfing with renewed energy and a hunger......
Billy Stairmand defends his title and Ella Williams returns
to competition as the duo are crowned champions at the Backdoor King and Queen of the Point. Stairmand snatched a come-from-behind victory in the Men’s Division while Williams took the win in a tough two-way tussle in the Open Women’s Final.......
Paige Hareb wins the 2022 Nias Pro QS 5000 event in epic fashion, claiming victory in the final against Ella McCaffray, of USA, in 4-to-8 foot surf at Lagundri Bay, Nias, Indonesia....
Paige Hareb wins the 2022 Nias Pro in near-perfect surf at Lagundri Bay, Nias, Indonesia. Here’s how she did it … Paige has been competing on the World Surf League Championship Tour and Qualifying Series since 2008, yet her performance at The Nias Pro this past week has been her......
The 2022 Krui Pro QS 5000 sees two huge opening days of competition at Ujung Bocur, Indonesia, with Billy Stairmand and Daniel Farr both advancing to the Round of 32. Competitors in the opening rounds of the men’s met with pumping waves in the three-to-six foot range for the first......
The O’Neill Coldwater Classic surf contest was held on the Friday and Saturday of Queen’s Birthday weekend with Levi O’Connor and Poppy Entwisle taking out the premiere open divisions. Waves of cold southwest rain accompanying small one metre waves off the Mangamaunu urupa on the Friday, building to sloppy two......
The 2022 O’Neill Kaikoura Coldwater Classic taps into some fun waves as the first bite of winter chews it’s way through the field. Local lad Levi O’Connor and young rising star Poppy Entwisle ride to the top in the Open Men’s and Women’s fields. Kaikoura has a way of charming......
At the Nationals this year in Westport one surfer stood tall among so many. It wasn’t just because of the seamless lines he’d take on his waves, or his ability to surf a variety of craft, but for his consistency in his heats, and as a great human. At 15,......