Pair ride up NZ results table
Georgia Wederell and Darren Kiwi among Bay’s best performers at the national champs
Mount Maunganui’s Georgia Wederell has improved her results in this year’s national surfing champs — something she plans to continue at future events.
The 16-year-old finished second in the under 18 girls division at the Health 2000 National Surfing Championships, held at Stent Rd in Taranaki from January 6 to 12.
Last year she was third in the same division.
“It was good to get a better result, I’m very stoked with second,” Wederell said.
Fellow Mount Maunganui surfer Darren Kiwi also scored a second place in the over 45 men’s division.
Both surfers, along with Phil Griffin — who was second in the over 55 men’s division — left the competition as the top-ranked Bay of Plenty surfers.
The national championships were held over seven days with 29 divisions attracting more than 330 entries.
Wederell started surfing competitively about six years ago and has plans to eventually turn pro.
The online Te Kura student will be back at nationals next year with the goal to claim that No 1 spot in the under 18 division — and hopefully secure a good placing in the open women’s division as well.
This year was her fourth competing at nationals and next year, she’ll be back.
“I’d like a win in the under 18,” Wederell said.
She said her biggest barrier of competitions is focusing on her own plan and being in a good head space, so if she can do that she is confident in her ability.
Surfing is something Wederell started doing with her dad, who would surf the waves with her on his board. Now she can’t get enough of the sport herself.
“My dad surfs, he was always taking me out when I was younger.
“I love being out there and doing what I love in the ocean.”
During the competition, Raglan’s Billy Stairmand claimed his seventh national title in the open men’s final while Great Barrier Island surfer Aimee Brown won her first title in the open women’s division.