An all-star team of New Zealand surfers has qualified for the 2023 Surf City El Salvador ISA World Surfing Games being held this May. The pinnacle event is the second Olympic qualifying opportunity for our top surfers with two places at Paris 2024 up for grabs for the top ranked surfers from the Oceania Region.
The New Zealand Surfing team will compete at the event from May the 30th to June 7th, in Surf City, El Salvador at the world-renowned breaks of El Sunzal and La Bocana.
Billy Stairmand (Rag), Kehu Butler (Mnt) and Dune Kennings (Piha) will represent New Zealand in the Men’s Division. Billy and Kehu gained entry through 2022 World Surf League (WSL) Challenger Series and Dune Kennings through his win at the 2023 National Surfing Championships held at Piha in January.
Paige Hareb (Tara), Saffi Vette (Gis) and Pia Rogers (WGM) will represent New Zealand in the Women’s Division. Hareb qualifies via the WSL Challenger Series like Stairmand and Butler with Vette via the 2023 WSL Australia/Oceania Qualifying Series and Rogers through her title at the National Championships in January.
Billy Stairmand follows on from his successful QS campaign in Australia this summer where he placed 6th overall in the Australia/Oceania rankings. He is looking forward to his busy schedule of upcoming events. “I’m really looking forward to the next couple of months. First the Challengers in Australia and then off to El Salvador for the World Surfing Games. I’m super motivated this year and feeling fit and healthy”.
On his qualification for the New Zealand team
“To be selected for the Worlds is amazing. You are representing New Zealand in a different way, and I can’t wait. This event has a lot more of a team vibe, it’s fun. But at the same time, I’ve got my own personal goals I want to tick off. I’m ready to really knuckle down and put my best foot forward; bring it on”.
Over 50 countries and 250 athletes will participate at the event. Four continents will qualify surfers for Paris 2024 with the surfing at the event being held at Teahupo’o, Tahiti.
The most recent World Surf Games event was held in Huntington Beach, USA where a six-strong team of Kiwis attended and placed 19th in the world. New Zealand has been attending the ISA World Surfing Games since the 60s and continues to do so this year with the team travelling to El Salvador for one of the most important events of the year.
