Bay dominate surfing

The domination of the Bay of Plenty Junior Surfing Team continues after they claimed their fourth straight team's title at the 2015 National Scholastic Surfing Championships at Northern Makorori, Gisborne.

A move to the northern end of Makorori Beach on Friday, was made to give competitors better conditions in the dying swell of up to 1.0m.


Bay surfer Callum Chuter. Photo: File.

The break offered pristine long-running left and right handers throughout the morning with brisk offshore winds.

The title was not decided until the last final of the day where Bay of Plenty team captain Callum Chuter got the edge over Taranaki surfer Isaac Kettle, the two surfers placing second and fourth respectively.

A win by Kettle in the hotly contested final would have been enough to see Taranaki home with their first title.

Host team Gisborne finished runner up after their seven finalists performed exceptionally well including two titles.

Taranaki also took home two titles. However it was the consistency across the board from the Bay of Plenty who, despite not taking out any individual titles, claimed six finals berths.

Waikato took top honours in the Under-18 Boys Division with Taylor Hutchison surfing his way to a comprehensive win with a 17.50 point heat total.

All four surfers opted to surf the lefthander and were tussling for position for much of the final as the tide began to drop.

Hutchison used his backhand to good affect with speed and flow across the small waves. Callum Chuter placed second on his forehand after a great run of form all event.

Dark horse Zac Curle placed third and Taranaki's Isaac Kettle finished in fourth. In the Under-18 Girls Division it was Dayna Story that defended her title with a 13.10 point heat total.

Story contested the final with team mate Abby Falwasser – Logan who finished fourth and again a small change in fortune against their Bay of Plenty opponents could have seen Gisborne take the title.

Alas it was the Bay of Plenty girls finished in second and third with Maaia Reid – Bennett getting the nod over Kea Smith.

Taranaki surfer Daniel Farr went on a tear in the final of the Under-16 Boys Division who defeated popular local surfer Riaki Ruru in the final, Ruru posting a 13.7 point heat total to finish runner up ahead of Otago's sole finalist Jack McLeod in third and Joel Clegg (Tara) in fourth.

Taranaki's first title of the day came from Zhana Hutchison in the Under-16 Girls Division. Hutchison, the only female of their team surfed with typical aggression and power on the lefts and posted 16.10 point total in the final.

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