The New Zealand Junior Surfing Team has finished the 2022 World Junior Championships in thirteenth place overall after the final day of the event was completed today, Monday June 6.

Hawaii took out top honours with Australia in second, USA in third and France in fourth.

Mount Maunganui surfer Tao Mouldey was the highest ranked Kiwi surfer finishing seventeenth in the Under 16 Boys Division on the penultimate day of the event which was contested in solid 1.5m waves and moderate cross-shore winds.

In his first of up to four heats for the day, Tao was looking sharp early after surfing to the highest single wave score of 7.25 in the heat thanks to two big backhand turns on the El Sunzal podium – a shifty righthand point break.

Tao held second position for the majority of the 20-minute heat as he hunted down a wave to improve on his backup score of 2.5. However, he couldn't find that wave in the final minutes. His Australian opponent Eden Hassan took a narrow win with the American surfer Cannon Carr sneaking a last scoring ride to advance. Requiring a 4.35, the American surfed to a 4.65 on the final hooter to bump Tao into third place and elimination.

Joining Tao in the Under 16 Boys Division were Spencer Rowson (Tara) and Jack Tyro (Chch) who both finished the event in 33rd equal. The Under 16 Boys Division was won by Australian Willis Droomer.

Mount Maunganui surfer Tao Mouldey was the highest ranked Kiwi surfer finishing seventeenth in the Under 16 Boys Division. Photo:Jersson Barboza/ ISA.

Leia Millar (Piha) was the top placing Kiwi female finishing 22nd in the Under 16 Girls Division. Millar was joined by Pia Rogers (WGM) and Skylar McFetridge (Tara) who both finished 37th. Canadian surfer Erin Brooks won the division helping Canada to ninth overall.

Finn Vette (Gis) and Kora Cooper (Rag) finished the event in 33rd equal as the top ranked boys in the Under 18 Division with Kalani Louis (Tara) finishing in 81st. The Hawaiian Team made it a one-two in the division with Luke Swanson winning and Shion Crawford finishing in second.

Ava Henderson (Chch) and Liv Haysom (Piha) finished 49th in the Under 18 Girls Division with Natasha Gouldsbury (Tara) finishing in 61st. The Hawaiian's claimed their second title of the event with Eweleilua Wong taking the title.

Overall Placings
1. Hawaii, 7308
2. Australia, 6220
3. USA, 5746
4. France, 5686
5. Spain, 5122
6. Japan, 5031
7. Brazil, 4525
8. Portugal, 4173
9. Canada, 4042
10. South Africa, 4033
11. Peru, 3990
12. Argentina, 3900
13. New Zealand, 3413
14. Costa Rica, 3410
15. England, 3266