In an exhilarating display of skill and determination, Raglan surfers Billy Stairmand and Maya Mateja have secured top honors at the national surfing championships held north of Gisborne.
Stairmand, achieving his ninth national title, and 17-year-old Mateja, who celebrated her second championship victory, both showcased their remarkable talent while navigating the challenging 1.5-meter waves at Makorori Beach with impressive finesse.
For Stairmand, this triumph marks his first national title since 2021, a significant milestone as he faced the largest competitor field seen in two decades. "I encountered a few rough heats earlier this week; the conditions were smaller for most of the competition but still manageable, and I struggled to find my rhythm," he reflected on his experience. "I decided to switch up my surfboards today, which proved beneficial, and I saved my best performance for the final heat. Winning my ninth title feels truly rewarding."
During the final round, Stairmand amassed an impressive 17.84 points, decisively outpacing defending champion Alexis Owen from Dunedin, who claimed the runner-up position.
The women's final proved to be a nail-biter, with Mateja clinching victory by scoring a late wave of 5.73, bringing her total to 12.80, just ahead of Ariana Walker. "I feel incredibly happy and blessed, and I'm so grateful to be here with my family, enjoying the event and celebrating this win this week," Mateja expressed her joy. "Today’s conditions were really challenging; I was unsure what was happening out there since I couldn’t hear the scores being announced. The other competitors were surfing exceptionally well, so I knew I had to stay focused and catch more good waves to secure the win. When I returned to the beach, I was relieved to learn that I had done enough to win."
In addition to the main events, Owen also claimed the under-18 boys’ title, while Taranaki took the championship in the same age category for boys.
If you're interested in staying updated on such thrilling events, consider signing up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter carefully curated by our editors that will be delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
