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.
