January 18th 2022: The Nats: Top 10

I've just spent one week on the West Coast with the type of hospitality that never fails to impress.

Here are my top 10 moments that went down at the 2022 NZ National Surfing Championships held at Tauranga Bay, Westport this past week:

1) Daniel Farr and Billy Stairmand (who had been the head and shoulder form surfer all event) lock horns. Daniel goes to the air twice and beats the QS, CS and Olympian. The Taranaki crew erupts.

2) Jack Tyro wins the junior and then the open longboard title, then lines up the Under 16 shortboard final. Paddles out and smashes it, winning a record-breaking third national title at one event. So good.

3) Massive call in the Under 18 boys final when form surfer of the division Spencer Rowson gets an interference call after taking off when Lewis Murphy had priority. He loses his second score, which relegates him to fourth. The call is questioned, but, upon review, the judges got it right.

4) Still in the Under 18s and Rakiatea "Rocco" Tau arrives with a commanding performance that sees him dominate the final – even without Spencer's penalty he would have won the final. Just incredible for the humble 15-year-old from Waikuku.

5) One more in the Under 18s is Lewis Murphy – at 14 one of the youngest in the division and superb in his maturity going up against some of New Zealand's best. He hit a whole new level in that environment and that speaks volumes for the young ripper's character.

6) Anna Hawes finished second to Paige Hareb in her 30+ division ... while five months pregnant.

7) Billy Stairmand and Paige Hareb – both world-class surfers and spending time in Westport to share their knowledge with the next generation. Just awesome humans. Paige even won her first Open Women's NZ title.

8) The Surfing New Zealand judges and team: huge days starting at 6:30am and finishing as late as 8pm on site and 12pm for a few of us media types ...

9) Westport. What a class act of a New Zealand town. The hospitality is incredible from the main street businesses to the cafes, restaurants and services. Friendly, happy people emanating such a great vibe all week. For example, the Star Tavern stayed open until 11:30pm one night – just for me so I could get a story and pictures published.

10) The surfers of Buller. To have 300+ surfers come to your breaks and to welcome them with open arms and a warm heart ... take a bow. You made all of our time there a much deeper experience. Arohanui.

See you at the beach ... Derek

PS You can read the full story on the 2022 New Zealand Surfing Nationals right here at NZ Surf Journal.