One of the most promising rising stars in New Zealand, 16-year-old Alexis Owen, peaks in the 2025 New Zealand Surfing Championship Open Men’s final to pull the rug out from eight-time national champion Billy Stairmand and two-time national and defending champion Daniel Farr.
Billy Stairmand knows what it takes to topple giants in the surf world. He famously beat Kelly Slater at the Margaret River Pro back in 2011 and has since claimed the scalps of world champions Mick Fanning and Gabriel Medina. Ironically, Billy is the Kelly Slater of New Zealand. He has a target on his back in every heat and everyone’s aiming at him. Even the judges expect more from him on every turn and every wave.
But in that final at Stent Road, Alexis initially looked outclassed against a familiar Daniel Farr and Billy Stairmand show. Despite a masterful campaign in Taranaki, Zen Wallis, was unable to find a wave score in the excellent range.
Alexis opened with a 4.77. That wasn’t going to cut it. Then he found a 7.50 – the highest wave at that stage of the final. It was pivotal. It put him in striking range, though I doubt Billy or Daniel thought that possible. Billy, keeping busy as instructed by one of his coaches, completed a seven-wave final, his fifth the best in the final at 8.60 with an air rev and some impressive rail work and full wraps.
Daniel answered with an 8.27 that included an air rev of his own. The final looked set to be a repeat of the thrilling aerial showdown we saw at the Westport Nats in 2022. Daniel won that. The memory was too close for Billy.
Meanwhile, Alexis had a 0.80 to contemplate and a clock that was running against him. He had a lot to think about in the lineup there at Stent Road. Two days earlier he watched his dream to win the Under 18s evaporate in the semi final as he surfed an uncharacteristic heat that saw him fall repeatedly on his waves. People shook their heads – Lexi was renowned for his rock solid finishing. But that was it – his goal of making the New Zealand junior team now a much tougher proposition.
“Lookout,” Lexi’s friend, Keo Morrison told me. “He’s going to be fired up for the Men’s Open now – I reckon he might win it.”
The lulls at Stent Road for the finals meant priority played a much bigger role, and Alexis knew it.
“I took deep breaths and told myself I could do it,” Alexis revealed. “I got priority and there was time and then I looked out the back and there was a set coming. I would let the surfing happen. I have surfed waves like that a million times and I did what I train every day for – I knew I could do it.”
Alexis sold Billy on a wave. Billy, possibly more focused on Daniel, took it. In the dying seconds Alexis paddled into the next, bigger wave. It hit the now low-tide point at a nice angle and wrapped down the line, Alexis lifting to carve his way to the inside. It was a beautifully surfed wave with enough size and power and flow to come close … but would it be enough.
Waiting on the rocks on the inside Alexis wasn’t even sure. “I had no idea if I got the score,” he admitted. “I knew it would be close. I surfed the wave for what it was and gave it everything. I had one shot.”
Then commentator Simon Fritchley, who had reached fever pitch throughout the final, called it: 8.03. Alexis had won by 0.26 over Billy. Alexis burst into tears.
“When I heard the score I broke out in tears – I got it,” recalled Alexis.
Alexis was swamped by friends and family on the rocks as his tears continued, culminating in an emotional hug with his mum.
“I was planning to win the 18s and that didn’t go to plan,” admitted Alexis. “So, I was like, I need to come back and do well in the Opens and put it all on the line. I knew I could do it and I did it. But I can’t believe it.”
An historic win, Alexis’s title is the first ever Open Men’s title for the South Coast Boardriders who have boasted some of the best surfers in New Zealand over the years including Graham Carse, Scott Hunter, Danny Carse and Felix Dickson among others.
Alexis’s win, combined with Ava Henderson’s in the Open Women’s marks the first time both prestigious titles have been won by South Island surfers. Both surfers are a product of South Island Surfing Association’s modernised and revered grom series, and athlete development.
The 2025 New Zealand Surfing Championships are the 62nd edition of the event, the 10th time it has been held along the Taranaki coast. The 2025 Nats were hosted by New Plymouth Surfriders.
