2015 New Zealand Surfing Team

Hi everyone,

The ISA World Surfing Games came to a close with our team finishing eighth overall. We had aimed at a top seven finish which would have given us qualification into the China Cup in January 2015 but we fell 38 points short which is a shame.

Our girls held the team together with Ella Williams placing third and Paige eighth. The two were clear stand outs all week notching up heat win after heat win.

On the final day of the event Paige fell a wave short in her first heat to be eliminated while Ella pushed on through to the final where she matched eventual winner Tia Blanco. Ella eventually came up a wave short in the bigger surf that rolled through from Hurricane Blanca.

Our result was a big improvement on last year when we placed eleventh. We should qualify for the Aloha Cup Tag Team event at the World Surfing Games next year which will be the first time in several years that we have contested that event within the event.

Nicaragua was amazing to us. It was a really nice location, lovely people and the waves were amazing all week long. With your help, we represented New Zealand proudly and worked together as a team to improve our world ranking.

Once again, thanks for your support and donations.

Overall Results

Open Women

Ella Williams – 3rd

Paige Hareb – 8th

Open Men

JC Susan – 31st

Matt Hewitt – 43rd

Zen Wallis – 49th

Dune Kennings – 73rd

Regards,

Dune, JC, Matt, Zen, Ella and Paige.

PS Paige and Ella continued on to a World Surf League QS6000 event in Mexico where Paige placed fifth making it all the way through to the quarterfinals. This has strengthened her qualifying series ranking. Paige currently sits in sixth place overall with three major events remaining and a real shot at clawing her way back on to the World Tour – the pinnacle of surfing.