athlete Archives - New Zealand Surf Journal

Into The Fire: A QS Rookie’s Journey

Derek MorrisonDec 24, 2024December 24, 20240

George Roberts’ move to Australia to give the World Qualifying Series a crack in 2024 reveals just how brutal they can be, but also how those first round knockouts fuel his drive. Surfing competitively in New Zealand is a pathway fraught with potholes. While the junior ranks are relatively well-catered...

The 10 Best Surfers In New Zealand In 2023

Derek MorrisonDec 30, 2022December 30, 20220

New Zealand Surf Journal asks the New Zealand surfing industry to rank our 10 best surfers. The concept is simple: include not just the best competitors, but also our very best free surfers and underground chargers. This is who they came up with as we head into 2023. THE CRITERIA...

Chasing The Dream With National Champ Daniel Farr

Derek MorrisonDec 23, 2022December 29, 20220

Taranaki surfer Daniel Farr won the Nationals at Westport in 2022, taking down form surfer of the event, Billy Stairmand, in one of the most exciting finals ever seen in New Zealand. The quiet, reserved surfer always believed he could do it. Now he has his sights set on the...

Five Minutes With: Olympian Billy Stairmand

Derek MorrisonJul 29, 2021July 25, 20240

Billy Stairmand may not have made it past Round 3 at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, but the way he took on Italo Ferreira in his man-on-man match was inspired. Stairmand never gave up and went hunting for that magic ramp that would bring him into line with the Brazilian world...

NZSJ Podcast: Paige Hareb And Saffi Vette In MIQ

Derek MorrisonJun 24, 2021July 25, 20240

New Zealand Surf Journal releases Episode 1 of its Good Salt podcast series with an in-depth chat with Paige Hareb and Saffi Vette as they endure MIQ in Auckland. Fresh back from the ISA World Surfing Games in El Salvador we discuss the Olympic dream, Tokyo 2020’s waves, and we...

Rising Grom: Leia Millar

Derek MorrisonJun 8, 2021July 25, 20240

Leia Millar is not your typical 14-year-old surfer. The North Piha local has been brought up on a steady diet of gymnastics, which has shaped her into an extraordinarily promising young athlete. A career in surfing is now well and truly in her sights … she’s already taking national titles....

Paige Hareb Recovering After Blackout In El Salvador

Derek MorrisonJun 8, 2021July 25, 20240

Paige Hareb suffers medical event while celebrating her 31st birthday in El Salvador on Sunday and requires hospital treatment. “I went out to celebrate my El Salvadorian birthday last night, but things took a turn for the worst,” she shared on Instagram. Paige has spent her birthday surfing with Saffi...

Five Minutes With: Surfing New Zealand’s Ben Kennings

Derek MorrisonMay 26, 2021July 25, 20240

With New Zealand’s competitive season coming to a close we put some tough questions to Surfing New Zealand’s Ben Kennings. Is Surfing New Zealand headed in the right direction? Are we looking after our athletes? Are we providing a pathway? Ben Kennings gives us an insight into what the off-season...

Rising Grom: Kalani Louis

Derek MorrisonNov 24, 2020July 25, 20240

There’s a new wave of competitive surfers coming out of Taranaki and they’re taking scalps in national events. New Zealand Surf Journal caught up with the effervescent Kalani Louis after his Under 16 Final at the 2020 National Scholastics Championships held at Kaikoura. NZSJ: Hey Kalani, congrats on a great...

Watch: National Champ Elliot Paerata-Reid – The Post-Lockdown Edit

Derek MorrisonJun 9, 2020July 25, 20240

Current New Zealand Surfing Champion Elliot Paerata-Reid looks back on his year in this post lockdown release – you can rest-assured this is no ordinary surf memoir. From sublime Indonesian waves to a full-on aerial showcase, EPR’s film Reccy is another solid dose of the hard-charging Piha surfer. Check out...