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.
