Piha’s Dune Kennings and Whangamata’s Piha Rogers claimed their maiden titles at the 2023 National Surfing Championships completed at Piha Beach, Auckland on Saturday 14th January and Raglan’s Navryn Malone took out the Under 18 Boys Division.
In a spectacular display of surfing in perfect 1.5m waves, Kennings rode to a near perfect 19.25 point heat total to win the final.
16-year-old Rogers also put on a dominant display of surfing, riding to a 15.65 point heat total to win her final.
Kennings becomes the first son of a previous title winner to join the illustrious list of New Zealand champions behind his father Lynden who won back-to-back titles in 1990 and 1991.
Eight time national champion Billy Stairmand (Rag) held the lead for part of the final with a 17.85 heat total until the patient Kennings found a late ride and completed three big turns to score a near-perfect 9.90.
In the Under 18 Boys Division, a perfect 10-point ride sealed the title for Navryn Malone (Rag). The final was another close one with Malone’s 17.70 besting Kalani Louis on 17.15. Whakatane surfer Tai Murphy finished third on 15.10 and Tao Mouldey (Mnt) finished fourth on 13.35.
Dunedin’s Alexis Owen claimed the title in the Under 16 Boys Division with Alani Morse (Rag) claiming the girls division courtesy of an amazing 9.0 point ride to open her heat.
Piha youngster Kyra Wallis claimed the Under 14 Girls Division with Vitor Kokemper (Mnt) winning the boys division.
Over in the Senior Women’s Divisions, Raglan’s Kiri Binnersley took out the winning title. Men’s Senior titles went to Taranaki’s Jarred Hancox (Over 30s), Mount Maunganui’s Matt Scorringe (Over 35s), Taranaki’s Kane Rowson (40s), Auckland’s Andrew Robinson (Over 45s), Mount Maunganui’s Darren Kiwi (Over 50s) and Raglan’s Rick Lasch (Over 55s).
The 2023 National Surfing Championships commences the domestic NZ Surf Series, NZ Grom Series and NZ Longboard Series with fifteen events scheduled around the country this summer.
