Billy Stairmand
Despite heading into his ninth year of WQS grind, we reckon Billy Stairmand may have found a reason to breakthrough in 2019, but it won’t be easy. Relegated to lower level WQS events for 2019, he has to earn his way back into the bigger and better rewarding WQS competitions to have a crack at the Top 10. That’s a kick in the guts for the seasoned pro from Raglan, but the fact his good mate and fellow Suitcase Surfers stablemate Ricardo Christie pulled it off has surely got to ignite the fire in the talented natural-footer.
But sheer talent alone may not be enough to secure Billy’s future.
“Billy, the 7x National Champ, is hamstrung by the financial burden of competing on the WQS,” admits Craig Levers. “It’s a bummer to watch Billy’s competitive sorties simply come down to the lack of bucks. But on any given day on his native Raglan Points he is surfing incredibly. No doubt he’s got a couple more National Open titles in him.”
Winning the New Zealand Surfing Championships in 2019 from a hard charging, freshly qualified Ricardo Christie isn’t the only signal that Billy’s firing up for 2019. He’s got an air of confidence about him that’s exciting. We haven’t seen that since 2011 when he took down the then 10-time World Champ, Kelly Slater, in Margaret River as a 21-year-old.
“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.”
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. Can he produce it day-in, day-out on the QS grind? Does he have the mettle to rise back to the top? We certainly believe he can.
