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
Surfers are assessed based on their International, Australasian and New Zealand feats, in that order. Those competing in World Surf League (WSL) and International Surfing Association (ISA) events get priority with females and males assessed equally. The rankings are not just based on competitive performance, but also take into account significant free-surfing sessions from the past 12-months. Rising stars can have a place too, but the idea is that if we were sending a Kiwi team to the Olympics being held at pumping Pipeline, Hawaii, what order would you line up the best New Zealand surfers?
THE PANEL OF EXPERTS
The New Zealand surfing industry we canvassed includes media, board shapers, officials and identities who have helped shaped the sport. This year saw a superb battle between first, second and third with just three points separating our top three. To give you some idea of how close that is the step back to third is almost 46 points adrift.
We go into this knowing how flawed the concept is. How can you really rank a group of surfers with such a wide variety of skill sets and without full comprehension of their free-surfing feats? Seriously, that is almost impossible. We acknowledge that, but maybe this list isn’t too far off the mark? And the debate that rages around who got overlooked, skunked and should have been on here is what makes this concept intriguing.
THE TOP 10 SURFERS ARE … DRUM ROLL …
Jack Tyro
At just 16 Jack Tyro is the youngest ever surfer to crack our top 10. He deserves to be here. The quiet, humble surfer won the Under 18 Longboard title at Westport in January, then the Open Men’s Longboard title and then, later that afternoon, the Under 16 shortboard title. Jack’s trio of National Championships marks the first time anyone has ever won three premier divisions in one single year.
What makes Jack special is that he conducts himself with the utmost integrity and respect. He’s an amazing person to be around and just so nice to everyone. That alone doesn’t win championships, of course, but it helps to open doors. And those doors are opening for him. He has been invited to compete in the Longboard QS series that will take place at Noosa and Manly, Australia, in the first half of 2023.
Jack tips his hat to the efforts of his mum and dad, Jen and Steve. Steve is a seasoned competitive surfer himself with a penchant for adventure surfing. He and Jack have a special relationship around the surf comps … a winning formula.
“Dad took me to all of his surf comps when I was little, and now he takes me to mine,” Jack begins. “He knows the little things needed to prepare for a comp. As well as shortboarding, he also introduced me to longboarding and taught me that 5s, 10s and drop-knee turns win heats, comps and titles. We’ve been to every nook and cranny of New Zealand searching for surf. I couldn’t think of a more supportive father. I must mention however that we are very lucky that my mum and Sam put up with the both of us. I am stoked I have the support from a genuine surfing family.”
Take a bow Jack, and scroll down to see the company you are keeping.
Ricardo Christie
Ricardo Christie slips from first place to ninth, but the quiet Gisborne charger can still be found laying down those power carves.
Ric was New Zealand’s third ever male surfer to make the WSL Championship Tour (WCT), after Maz Quinn and Al Byrne, when he qualified for the 2015 tour. A tough 2015 WCT campaign saw him relegated back to the WQS grind for 2016 and 2017. That’s a hard slog in anyone’s books. He finished 57th in 2016 and then 31st in 2017. By his own admission 2018 was his last roll of the dice. Toward the end of the 2018 season, as he turned 30, Ricardo found the self-belief he needed.
At Haleiwa he found his rhythm and booked the last spot on the 2019 tour. It would be his 11th year chasing his tour dream.
His 2019 season seemed different – Ricardo seemed relaxed and accepted his fate. He won five heats, and only made it once into the Round of 16 – fittingly for the powerhouse surfer, that was at Pipe, the conclusion to the season. But he did it in style, eliminating title hopeful Filipe Toledo in his Round of 32 Pipe Masters match-up. Ricardo finished 33rd in the world. He was relegated once again.
It wasn’t immediately apparent if Ricardo would rejoin the QS in 2020 with Covid eventually forcing his hand. Instead he started a surf school and shared some of his gathered knowledge with a swarm of young surfers. Very soon he was drafted into real estate, his name opening the door to new listings and new customers for the real estate company that took a punt on him.
These days he wears a suit and dresses sharp – like he’s about to go meet some royalty. It’s incongruous to the style of character we got to know as he took on the surfing world for all of those years. But, if you’re up early and you know where to look, you’ll find Ric tearing the best bank in Wainui to shreds each morning. And if you do see that with your own eyes then you’ll know why he still has a spot in New Zealand’s Top 10 Best Surfers.
Maz Quinn
Now well into his 40s Maz Quinn just keeps getting better. He surfs more than anyone and is still as dedicated as ever. He’s not focused on any contests, but with his sister Holly and his brother Jay back in town you can rest-assured there are some sibling heats going down around Gisborne.
Part of the reason Maz is still so good, is that he works hard to keep in shape and fit enough to surf the way he wants.
“I’m probably not surfing as good as I did in my late 20s and early 30s,” he laughs. “But I feel like I am surfing well and I am keeping fit – that’s the key at our age – keeping fit and getting in the water as much as possible and hopefully that downward spiral will be a little slower than a slippery slope.”
Maz became New Zealand’s second-ever* male surfer to make the World Championship Tour when he qualified in 2002. It was an incredible achievement.
Maz, who officially retired from competitive surfing in 2017, had 26 years competing and was making finals in New Zealand right through to that last season. In the events he’s “come out of retirement for” since then he’s continued to be a force to be reckoned with.
Maz is often regarded as surfing royalty in New Zealand – a fitting mark of respect for who he is and what he has achieved. If you get the chance to surf with him you’ll understand why.
*Allan Byrne was our first to compete in a World Tour event, a fact that is woefully under reported. He finished second to Simon Anderson at the Pipeline Masters in 1981 and 24th overall in the International Professional Surfers (IPS) world rankings that same year.
Caleb Cutmore
Coming in at number seven is Raglan’s Caleb Cutmore. This is the goofy foot’s first time in the Top 10. Caleb, 21, is one of the most driven and exciting surfers we’ve seen coming through the ranks. He’s a product of the Raglan Surf Academy with tutelage by Backdoor’s Geoff Hutchison and his own father, Cam.
He won the Under 16 National Championship in 2017, then the Under 18 National Championship in 2019 before stumbling across a drought as he entered the Open arena. That doesn’t mean he wasn’t at times the form surfer at an event – he just never managed to find the rub of the green. In a way those near misses helped to build his resilience. He worked smart, developed one of the best air games in New Zealand and is now one of our fittest and most powerful surfers. His time it feels, is yet to come.
That was fine for Caleb, who invested the past three years into a degree in sports science; a Bachelor of Health, Sport and Human Performance at the University of Waikato. Now he’s graduated and his next move will be one to watch …
At Westport’s 2022 Nationals, he was the one surfer who looked likely to be able to give Billy Stairmand a run for his money throughout the early days when the surf was pumping. On any day when the Ledge at Manu Bay is breaking, you’ll find Caleb weaving through those twisted caverns like he’s walking in the park.
This may be Caleb’s first time in the Top 10, but we’re certain he’ll be heading up this list in the future.
Levi Stewart
Appearing for the first time on this list is Waihi Beach surfer Levi Stewart. Levi has been the quiet assassin in recent years, slowly making his way forward in the sport. He doesn’t make a fuss and just works tirelessly in the background with some of the best carves and above the lip surfing you’re likely to see at his adopted home at the Mount. He doesn’t always bring his flowing style and power to his heats, but in the quality waves of Westport’s National Champs he was a standout. That took him all the way to a start in the final, where Billy Stairmand and Daniel Farr stole the show.
Levi works as a surf coach and with artist friend Ben Young, who also grew up in Waihi, and rips.
There is a twist to Levi’s journey – back in 2013, while surfing at Piha, Levi broke his back. He was not expected to be able to reach the same level of surfing again after that injury. Instead, against the tide of expert opinion, he exceeded his performance level.
Levi has spent three years sampling QS competition, benefiting from the new format Australian leg. He contested three events in 2019 and bombed in all of them. In 2020/2021 he contested five events with improvements coming as he settled into the pace of QS heats. He finished 42nd. He has so far competed one event on the 2022/2023 schedule, the Mad Mex Maroubra Pro and sits in 81st position, before another setback came his way.
In spring of 2022 he re-injured his lower back. Levi is now two months into his recovery with another three to four months to go. He should be back in the water by mid-autumn.
“It’s not ideal, but I’m positive I’ll get back to where I was,” he tells NZ Surf Journal. “I’m very driven to get back and competing at a high level again.”
We have him pegged as one to watch in the future. If you’ve had a free surf with him, or have seen him free-surfing then you know he’s on another level. When he fully recovers and can bring that to heats … look out.
Elliot Paerata-Reid
Elliot Paerata-Reid was ranked fifth in 2019 and he hasn’t moved a single spot for 2023. Elliot has been waging battle on the WQS since 2014 (the Junior QS since 2013), had a strong year in 2015, cracking the top 200, and then topped it in 2018 with a 172nd position. He had had enough of a sniff and stepped it up in 2020 to finish 78th, then 31st in 2021. Last season he finished in 39th place with just three events in his tally.
While the Australian QS rounds make the events slightly more accessible, you still have to beat a lot of quality Aussie surfers on their home turf. It’s still a very tough environment to crack before you even start to consider the pressure cooker that is the Challenger Series.
Elliot has one very strong advantage – he’s been an Indo regular for most of his surfing life – Nias is like his second home.
Outside of the competition arena Elliot starred in the mega swell that rolled into Indonesia back in July 2018. He arrived just as Nias was transformed from a playground into something on the brink of madness. While others were questioning if it was even possible to paddle in, Elliot stroked into an incredible wave. He didn’t stick the drop, got the hiding of his life and went viral. That moment elevated him and put New Zealand surfing a notch or two higher on the performance spectrum.
He’s more recently teamed up with Australian-based Kiwis McKenzie and Tane Bowden producing a series of satirical and sometimes poignant skits dealing with anything and everything in modern life. Definitely worth a watch …
Daniel Farr
Daniel Farr is new to this list this year – catapulted into the top five thanks to a searing Nationals win and two impressive performances, advancing into the Round of 32, in proper Indonesian waves during his debut appearance at the Krui Pro and Nias Pro.
The Taranaki local has recently turned 23 and is building towards his dream to chase the tour. He’s a clever operator. He first competed on the Junior QS in 2014 and has contested QS events from 2015 through to 2019. He’s rubbed shoulders in heats with Callum Robson, Liam O’Brian and Ethan Ewing – all surfers who have since made the Championship Tour. Like many athletes he was involuntarily sidelined as the world wrestled with Covid.
“Next year I’ll be back on the Australian tour,” Daniel reveals, adding that he likes the new regional qualifying format. “It certainly helps on the wallet and accessibility, just going over to Australia for a couple of weeks and smashing out events.”
Daniel has used his Covid-enforced hiatus to get his ducks lined up. He called 2022 his “preparation year”. We think he has the ability and the drive to climb further up this list – he’s already proven that he can rise to the challenge when faced with the skill and talent of a surfer of Billy Stairmand’s ilk. He did that while working long nights as a manager at Domino’s Pizza restaurant in New Plymouth. It was a hard-earned win, that reveals a little more of his character and his determination.
Te Kehukehu Butler
On paper Kehu is our highest achieving male surfer in WSL competition with a 55th on the Challenger Series for 2022 (Billy Stairmand finished 82nd). Kehu cracked the Round of 32 in Portugal and then again in Hawaii, but without advancing further, he sits well adrift of his goal.
In the QS season he had a superb run in Australia with four top ten finishes including a third and two fifth-place finishes to settle him into fifth in the 2021/2022 season (one spot behind Billy) and he currently sits 35th in the rankings for the 2022/2023 season having opted out of the Indonesian leg. He may rethink that in future campaigns.
The weight of expectation must sit heavily upon Kehu’s shoulders. Since he won the WSL Oceania Junior QS in 2018, most have billed him as our next big CT star. That’s a lot of pressure for the young surfer from Mount Maunganui. Throw in the Quiksilver and Red Bull team dynamics and you have a scenario that’s not befitting the very cruisy, laidback, quintessential Kiwi character that we see Kehu as.
But beneath all that, Kehu is a worker.
“I don’t think people realise how much Kehu puts into his success,” states Matt Scorringe. “I see him out every single day, all day at Omanu when he’s home. No matter if it’s 1ft or 5ft, onshore or offshore, he surfs all day continually working on his craft. He wants it bad and is going after it with everything he’s got. It’s inspiring to see.”
Kehu loves to be at home, spending time with his family. So when he is competing internationally it is his whanau who he has written on his sleeve and who he has in his mind. He has a lot still to prove and we’re certain that an Olympic lure and his thirst for qualification will be second-to-none. We’re excited.
Kehu Butler moves up one spot from fourth in 2019.
Billy Stairmand
Billy was ranked third last time around. In that time he has climbed not just one spot, but into the hearts of thousands as our first ever male Olympic surf athlete. His gutsy campaign at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics was the peak of his performance at the time … it was inspired … taken down by the eventual gold medalist in the end.
And then Billy just kept getting better. Something happened during that lead up to the Olympics. Perhaps it was the weight of the nation, perhaps it was the teachings and revelations from being inside New Zealand’s High Performance Sport environment, but Billy changed. For the better.
His approach to the 2022/2023 QS season was a master stroke for surfing in New Zealand. Billy shared his knowledge with Kehu, Levi and Saffi Vette, taking them under his wing and booking accommodation for the Australian leg. He claims he got more out of the simple act of kindness than anyone, but what he created saw all the athletes lift. For the first time ever there was a Kiwi presence that transcended anything that had gone before it. Billy was giving back and in return he was creating an environment for them all to succeed.
The proof is in his results, with five top 10 finishes from seven events and that includes a win, two seconds, a fourth and a fifth in his 12th season on the QS. Billy qualified for the Challenger Series in 4th place for the 2021/2022 season.
The Challenger Series season never fired for Billy. He at times looked good only to be ousted in the dying moments by an opponent. It was heart breaking to watch.
“I learn from every heat,” Billy told us. “Each time I see it as an opportunity to learn, and there is a lot to learn in this sport.”
In between, Billy who is seasoned to the need to also contest QS events alongside the main CS contests, went to the Krui Pro. There he roomed with Daniel Farr and imparted his knowledge. Billy was rewarded with a superb campaign in really solid Krui walls, finishing second to Jesse Mendes in the final.
He now sits in seventh overall on the 2022/2023 Australia/Oceania QS rankings with just two events of his possible five, and ahead of the Australian leg.
“Billy is amazing,” offers Paige Hareb. “He’s the only Kiwi to beat Kelly Slater and has been close to qualifying for the world tour before. I still believe he can do it.”
You have to remember when we are talking about Billy Stairmand, he is the giant killer – in 2011 he beat Kelly Slater at Margaret River in WA. Then in 2015 he also beat three-time World Champ Mick Fanning in a heat at Manly, NSW. He has the ability to produce the type of surfing that can knock the wind out of the world’s very best. We know that for sure. We also know that he loved his Olympic experience. We know he’s on a mission toward Teahupo’o 2024.
The fight for the number one spot in this list was fierce – the top three all stepped it up at some point during the year. Taranaki’s Paige Hareb is unquestionably New Zealand’s most successful surfer ever, but her feat at the Nias Pro was next level. She is the consummate professional – a surf athlete carving out an incredible path in the sport.
She also finally ticked off a goal she’d had for years: to win a New Zealand Open Women’s title. Her first came in January at Westport.
“Paige, to me, is the athlete we need to model if we want to get more New Zealand surfers to the elite stage.”
Paige, now 32, is New Zealand’s first female surfer to make the tour – she joined it in 2009. She remained on tour right through to 2014 – six years straight until she was relegated to the QS in 2015. That didn’t dampen her spirits – she just resolved to work smarter. Paige rejoined the tour in 2018. The year was a tough one for her, suffering a nasty injury during a free-surf in Mexico that took her out of contention. She turned that negative into a positive and re-emerged with an intensity and focus that was crystal sharp, an Olympic spot in the offing. Her back half of the 2018 season was masterful. She re-qualified for the CT and finished second at the ISA World Surfing Games that year.
Then, earlier in 2022 and seemingly out of nowhere, on perfect Nias walls, Paige finds a level of performance most surfers will only ever dream of. With a series of perfectly placed under the lip hooks she writes herself into history, the Nias Pro trophy etched with her name. And once again she has her hand up as our Olympic hope.
Paige qualified for the Challenger Series with a fourth placing in the 2021/2022 season. She struggled to break into the finals despite showing form at times. She finished 33rd and beyond contention for qualification.
In between CS events she committed to re-qualification through the QS events and currently she is ranked first on the 2022/2023 Australia/Oceania QS rankings with just four events of her possible five, and ahead of the Australian leg. That means she almost certainly has another CS start for the coming season and makes her New Zealand’s highest ranked surfer again.
“Paige, to me, is the athlete we need to model if we want to get more New Zealand surfers to the elite stage,” offers Matt Scorringe, of The Art Of Surfing. “Her mental strength and share tenacity is what is missing in the New Zealand surf culture as a whole and she has shown such fight to stay at the top level for longer than any other New Zealand surfer. I look forward to the day she has time to help the next generation with some insight on her mental game, which has kept her at the top for so long.”
Paige, take a bow, you’re ranked number one in New Zealand.
Who Dropped Off Since 2019?
Even though we had all the best intentions to keep this story updated annually, we lost track … a bit. So since we first compiled it here are some of the surfers who missed the cut between editions …
Luke Cederman ranked seventh in 2019, but while the big goofy foot actually seems to just keep improving in the surf he didn’t quite make the cut this year. It’s probably not an issue for him with The Raglan Surf Report, kicking goals and developing into a real New Zealand surf media classic. All served with a generous chunk of satire and comedy, it’s definitely worth a follow.
Whangamata surfer Ella Williams came it at 8th position in 2019 and has since competed at the Tokyo Olympics, becoming New Zealand’s first ever female Olympian. Since then she’s all but retired from the competition scene in favour of working in the family surf shop business in Whangamata. Her one appearance since resulted in a win at the Raglan Pro in 2022. Will she make a comeback ahead of Olympic selection for Paris 2024? That remains to be seen.
Big-wave charger Leroy Rust was ranked 9th in 2019 mainly for his efforts in paddling into some of the biggest waves in New Zealand. He also became the first Kiwi to paddle into a big wave at Jaws, Maui when he stroked into a giant in January of 2015. A series of concussions have curbed Leroy’s ambitions since then. He still rips in everyday waves when he isn’t running Hydro Surf Shop with his mother Katherine at St Clair.
Piha’s Dune Kennings rounded out the top 10 in 2019, but the dynamic talent has narrowly missed the cut this year despite notching up a five-year reign at the Auckland Champs in November. There are plenty of pundits who believe we haven’t seen the last of him in this list just yet …
Conclusion
Did we get it right? Did we overlook someone at your local break? Of course, we’ll never be bang on in everyone’s eyes. But we reckon we have a pretty good crop of surfers in this list. If you think otherwise, leave a comment below and tag in a surfer we may have overlooked. The debate that rages from a list like this is what a feature like this is all about.