Raglan’s Point Boardriders Club has claimed the 2022 Hurley New Zealand Boardriders Club Championships in an emphatic victory at Whangamata on Sunday 8th May.
Point Boardriders won the title after claiming the tag team event win which was the last chance for their opponents to steal the show.
They have won the right to be New Zealand’s representative at the Usher Cup to be held on Australia’s Gold Coast in January 2023, the first global team surfing event.
Led by their senior team member Larry Fisher, Point Boardriders claimed the tag team title as well as a one-two finish in the Open Men’s Division through Taylor Hutchison and Caleb Cutmore, a win by Kora Cooper in the Under 18 Boys, and thirds by Brie Bennett in the Open Women’s Division and team captain Larry Fisher in the Senior Men’s Division.
The overall points title came down to the tag team event with Point Boardriders that held the overall lead throughout the event and they finally made it official over Bay Boardriders of Mount Maunganui in second, New Plymouth Surfriders in third and host club Whangamata, finishing in fourth in the tag team event.
“Wow, we came here to win this weekend but this event has been more than that” commented Larry Fisher.
“This has been the best event that has captured what our club is about, being inclusive of all surfers and working as a team. That is what our President Luke Hughes has been working towards at home. We are stoked to win, and we want to represent New Zealand with pride at the Usher Cup next year” he added.
The surf cranked for the final day of the event with the swell remaining in the 1.5m mark with light variable winds.
Taylor Hutchison found himself in a battle with teammate Caleb Cutmore for the Open Men’s Division win. Both took different approaches to the final and it was Hutchison who surfed to the south that gained ascendency in the final. Bay Boardriders surfer Jack Hinton finished in third place impressing all weekend in both the team and individual events while Waihi Beaches’ sole finalist Zac Curle, finished in fourth.
Natasha Gouldsbury (New Plymouth) took a win in the Open Women’s Division which kept her club in contention for the overall win. Gouldsbury surfed to a 12.43 point total in the final to beat fellow Taranaki surfer Ariana Shewry of Oakura Boardriders who finished in second with Bennett in third and Lion Rock’s Gabi Paul in fourth.
Jos Kennings defended his title in the Over 40 Men’s Division helping Whangamata to fourth overall. Kennings posted a 13.10 point heat total leaving his opponents requiring excellent scores to catch him. Oakura Boardriders’ Eli Smith finished the closest to Kennings with an 8.90 point heat total while Larry Fisher finished in third and Maori Bay Boardriders sole finalist Rian Boyd finishing in fourth.
Kora Cooper (Rag) nailed the Under 18 Boys Division with his highest single wave score being a 7.23 point ride for a vertical backhand attack. Cooper is two weeks away from heading to the World Junior Championships being held in El Salvador. His closest rival will be his teammate at the event, Ta Mouldey. Mouldey was within striking distance of Cooper for the whole final, finishing with a 12.90 point heat total. Papamoa Boardriders representative Tava Santorik finished the final in third place with North Coast Boardriders surfer Tai Erceg-Gray finishing in fourth.
