Kehu Butler
Fresh off his World Surf League Oceania Junior QS win in 2018, Te Kehukehu Butler, is on a tear right now with many billing him as our next big CT star. That’s a lot of pressure for the young, almost 19-year-old surfer from Mount Manuganui. But he has big shoulders and a support team around him that is second to none.
“My guess is that we won’t see Kehu Butler ranked as low as this for many years to come,” smiles Craig Levers. “Before mentioning results, let’s take stock of the sheer style and power the Bay of Plenty surfer holds in spades. Just watch a couple of his clips from videographer Billy Lee-Pope – wow, the young man is a joy to witness. Funny, too. Result wise, he’s our World Surf League Oceania Junior Champion. To contextualise that, all the past regional champions have gone on to stellar surfing careers – we’re talking guys like Jack Freestone, Visco Ribero, Ethan Ewing, Finn McGill … in earlier machinations of the Junior World Cup … Joel Parkinson, Gabriel Medina. 2019 will see Kehu turn his attention to the WQS. This is gonna be a fun space to watch. Tune in.”
And Craig is not the only well-positioned commentator to see the potential in Kehu.
“Kehu is New Zealand’s next big hope I reckon,” considers Paige. “He’s got a lot of talent and determination and I would not be surprised at all if he’s the next Kiwi on the World Tour!”
Despite his very cruisy, laidback, quintessential Kiwi demeanour, 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 Butler may be the new generation of New Zealand pro surfer and if that is the case then we’re heading in a very good direction.
