Help Will get to the World Stage! 🇳🇿🏄‍♂️🌍

Will Hardie – Piha local, proud Kiwi, and determined athlete – has just been selected to represent Aotearoa at the 2025 ISA World Surfing Games in El Salvador!

At just 19, Will has carved an impressive path in NZ surfing. Raised on Piha’s wild west coast, he’s a member of every local surf club and currently represents Keyhole Boardriders.

After attending Auckland Grammar, he followed his dream to Raglan Surfing Academy – but halfway through, disaster struck. A serious back injury sidelined him for 6 months.

Most would’ve quit. Not Will.

While out of the water, he focused on recovery and stepped up as a surf judge – recently becoming head judge of the Billabong Grom Series.

He returned stronger, captained the Auckland Scholastics team, then was hit by the same injury in the finals.

Still, he didn’t quit.

With relentless grit, he rebuilt, hit the podium multiple times, and won two national titles – now ranked 3rd in NZ.

Will’s biggest honour yet: representing NZ on the world stage this September.

He’s juggling training, comps, and uni at Otago – and now needs help with costs for training/coaching, travel and accomodation, and equipment.

Every donation helps. Let’s back a local who never gave up – and show the world what Piha is made of.

Will's story’s not just about surfing – it’s about resilience, leadership, and heart. Let’s help him ride this wave all the way to El Salvador. 🙏

You can follow Will on instagram @will_hard1e