Mount Maunganui’s Jaxon Willows and Taranaki’s Izaro Williamson-Sasia have claimed rare double doubles by winning the senior and junior longboarding divisions at the 2026 National Surfing Championships.

In challenging 1.0m conditions early on Tuesday evening, the two surfers, aged 17 and 14 respectively, took unexpected wins in the senior divisions after earlier winning their age groups.

It is a feat only achieved once previously, by Christchurch surfer Jack Tyro in 2022.

Willows surfed four heats during the day in a marathon effort before coming up against three stalwarts of the longboarding community.

It was Australian-based Jordan Griffin who found a few corners to keep in touch with Willows, eventually finishing runner-up.

Ex-champion Gisborne surfers Dylan Barnfield and Daniel Procter had to settle for third and fourth in the final.

Williamson-Sasia claimed the women’s title with a nice right-hander that included a clean nose ride and swift footwork, scoring 6.27 points out of a possible 10. With a 10.94-point heat total, she eclipsed Ariana Walker (Mnt), who finished in second.

Jay Ryan finished third and Te Waiotu of Gisborne was fourth.

The four titles shared by Willows and Williamson-Sasia were among 15 awarded throughout a long day of surfing that capitalised on the peak of the swell this week.

Defending stand-up paddleboard champions Karlos Aarsen (Wgm) and Stella Smith (Gis) repeated the dose at Makorori today, beating their opponents.

Matt Scorringe (Mnt) secured his second title in the senior men’s divisions, this time in the over-30 men’s grade.

Scorringe went out with a solid game plan to hunt some left-handers, surfing downwind on his forehand, before going to his backhand on the rights.

He started out with an 8.0-point ride and followed it up with a 7.40 to hold the lead for the entire final.

Scorringe beat Blair Stewart (Gis), Nick White (Gis) and Logan Mills (Mnt).

In the senior women’s divisions, Lou Aitken (Whngrei) won the over-30 title and Claire Youmans (Gis) won the over-40 division.

In the over-50 women’s division, Rachel Ormsby took the win and Gaylene Sayer won the over-60 women’s title.

Maz Quinn fended off younger brother Jay to win the over-40 men’s division, posting a 14.27-point heat total in the final.

Maz finished the final with a 7.10-point ride late to extend his lead over Jay, who finished second, fellow Gisbornite Sam Johnson placed third and Thomas Kibblewhite (Auck) was fourth.

Matt Bennett (Mnt) took the win in the over-50 men’s division, posting a 14.0-point heat total.

Competing for the first time in many moons, the smooth goofy-footer managed to hold off Rick Lasch (Rag) in the final, who scored a 12.90-point heat total to finish runner-up.

The over-60s title was one of the more widely celebrated victories yesterday, with Steve “Teddy” Colbert taking the win.

Colbert last won a national title in 1984, with 42 long years between drinks for the local Gisborne surfer.

Gary Stevenson (Gis) claimed the over-70 men’s division on the strength of one wave after incurring an interference early in the final. Bodyboard titles went to Michael Williams in the men’s and defending champion Gisiele Summerton (Dun) in the women’s division.

The surf is expected to decrease for day 4 today, however, conditions are forecasted to remain clean all day with northwest winds.

The premier open women’s division kicks the action off, followed by the open men’s division.

Just under 400 entries across 28 divisions have been confirmed.

The event features competition across shortboard, longboard, stand-up paddleboard (SUP), kneeboard, bodyboard and adaptive disciplines, with divisions spanning from under-14s through to over-70s.

Special awards at the event include the title of the top boardrider club in the nation, as well as the Peter Byers Trophy, awarded to the surfer with the most outstanding performance across the week.

The event marks the first of eight national events around the New Zealand coastline between January and April as part of the Epic Break summer campaign, showcasing surfing talent and celebrating the surfing community.

The 2026 nationals are being hosted by Gisborne Boardriders Club alongside Trust Tairāwhiti.

They are joined by event partners Neighbourhood Cantina, Chris Fougere Orthopaedics, Kiwi Holiday Insurance, ACC and Sun Bum.

Competition runs daily from 8am to 5pm, with the open men’s and women’s finals expected to take place on Saturday, January 17.

Surfing Timetable

Day 4 – Open men and women, junior boys and girls

Day 5 – Open men and women, junior boys and girls

Day 6 – Open men and women, junior boys and girls, kneeboard

Day 7 – Open men and women, junior boys and girls, adaptive

– Content supplied by Surfing NZ