Surf nationals poised for Gisborne coastline
- editor59343
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
The 2026 National Surfing Championships will bring New Zealand’s surfing community together on the Gisborne coastline with one of the largest and most diverse fields in recent decades.
Just under 400 entries across 28 divisions have been confirmed for the January 11-17 event.
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The event will feature competition across shortboard, longboard, stand up paddleboard (SUP), Kneeboard and bodyboard disciplines, with divisions spanning from Under 14s through to Over 70s, showcasing the full depth and diversity of New Zealand surfing.
A standout feature of the 2026 Championships is the Open Division, which has attracted over 95 entries, marking the biggest Open field in more than 20 years. The strength of entries highlights the pulling power of the National Championships and its importance as a proving ground for current and emerging athletes as well as multiple past champions that have returned to the mix.
Seventeen-year-old Otago surfer Alexis Owen will aim to defend his title at Gisborne next week, the young surfer fresh back from Peru where he contested the World Junior Championships in December.
“Pretty exciting, being young and competing against New Zealand’s greatest surfers, all you can be is excited for the opportunity and hope to get some good heat wins and fingers crossed for some good surf for the action to take place in,” commented Owen on facing next weeks star-studded line up.
Owen will take on six additional past champions that have captured 21 titles between them. Led by Raglan’s Billy Stairmand with eight titles, the field includes Maz Quinn (4), Jay Quinn (3) and Daniel Farr (2) as multiple title holders. Blair Stewart is another local Gisborne surfer in the draw with a title to his name.
While Christchurch's Ava Henderson will not be at Gisborne to defend her Open Women’s title.
However the women’s field which will be led by NZ Junior Team members Leia Millar (Piha) and Lola Groube (Paunui) who both placed seventh at the World Junior Championships last month.
