A brief respite Tuesday morning, Fitzroy Beach
Schoolies! ….no, no, not the weird Aussie tradition of high school kids getting maggot on the Goldie. Nah this is a far more noble venture. The New Zealand National Scholastics. The comp has been going since 1989, spearheaded by the late greats, Mary Davie and Carol Cranch. You can’t help but think the legends are looking down with a warm grin of satisfaction, maybe even a bit of smug ’told you so’ at the magnitude and reach that the Nat Schols has now. Literally, teams representing regions from the Deep South to the Far North. So f@cking good.
Gizzy's Te Wai and Raglan's Daniel Kereopa
This year Taranaki hosted the 5 action packed days, thanks to GC’s, the OG’s at Fitzroy Boardriders. It’s no small feat to gather up all your club members that are able to volunteer time midweek to do all the stuff that has to happen behind the scenes. Then there’s the coaches of each team, scarily, just about every single one of them is a past competitor themselves, Damon Gunness, Ben Kennings, Daniel Kereopa, Dion Adhern, Jess Terryll, Liv Haysom, to name just a few.
Damon Gunness in a full circle situ for the Gizzy Team
Kapiti Coast's Dion Adhern, been too long grommet!!
This is not a contest report, you can go over the Surfing New Zealand to read those HERE.
Oooooosh BOP's Zen Mouldey bucketing
Northland’s Indi Lee-Ruddell…are you kidding me!
The week was brutal, it’s a tough call to have 5 days of goodness in the Naki, in Spring. It was never, ever going to be anything other than pack your raincoats and your Redbands. Every evening blast the motor-camp cabin heaters to dry out the gear… rinse and repeat, grindy comp head stuff. The sort of stuff that does season up any aspiring comp head. A daily lesson in be prepared for sun, torrential horizontal storm fronts, thunder and even a few wisps of offhores. Three days at Fitzy, then 2 days at the Jewel in the Crown, Stent Road. Wait, not a contest report.
Stent, you bewty, what a canvas for the grubs
Ok, here’s some of my favourite images from the week as the Official Shooter. In full disclosure, I did this one smart; I deployed the minions with a camera to capture the colour…aka the lifestyle images. Special thanks to Waikato Team Member Theo Morse for stepping up and taking some great images over the week. As did Arianna Walker, Sage Fritchley, India Kennings, Te Waiotu Fairlie and a bunch more, you guys nailed the brief.
Some mythical camera doodle, Xander Banks, Jakey Haines and Ethan Kirk-Orman- pic Theo
Ohh yes, we had Prawns, Hot Dogs, Chickens, Batman and Lizardy things...as the week progressed so too the $2 Shop mascots
Sol Fritchley on his way to clenching the 2025 U16 National Scholastics title
Gizzy’s Jaxon Pardoe on his way to U14 greatness
Piha's Poppy Arkle clenched the U18's for Team Aucks
As did fellow Piharian Sev Tolhurst in the U18 lads
The Fritchley sib's Sol and Sage- pic Arianna Walker...who, between camera duties took out the U16 Girls Title, bt -dub
Ahhh yes the aforementioned Arianna with fellow BOP members Zade Pitkethly and Zen Mouldey- Photo Sage
Zade was on fire in his semi-final, but just couldn't find the linkers in the last heat of the day
Team Coro, Koby Cox and unofficial captain Harrison Biddle
Auckland were super unlucky not to secure the repeat overall winners, Piha's Poppy Arkle [left] and Ella Rebolledo-Withers [middle] both winning their divisions, along with Sev. BOP edging out the incumbent champs with U16 boys, U16 girls, Boys Longboard and then more finalists across the divisions. It was close.... not a contest report
Two of Piha's most colourful grubs... and there's no shortage of competition in that regard... the Zeke and Zac show...epic
Zeke Praggart 2nd in the U16's
So Judgey.... some bloody legends right there, warm and dry for once aye lads!
and the lad himself, Theo Morse, photog extraordinaire, U18 semi finalist, NZ Team representative - thanks bro!
And DEEEN....
Sure, you could buy a hoodie from a surf shop, but think of the admin, finding a carpark, having to engage with a shop assistant whose life mission is to stitch you into buying a wetsuit or a new board as well. Far safer staying right here, keyboard side. Just buy one of these instead. It'll actually save you money.
