Mega Swell Marching Up Tasman To Explode On Auahi Kore ‘Maori Nats’
The 2010 Auahi Kore Aotearoa Maori Surfing Titles is set to score pumping waves this weekend (23rd – 24th October) with a perfect swell marching up the Tasman Sea. The eighteenth edition of the event is being staged at Manu Bay, Raglan for only the third time.
The swell is developing behind the strong westerly winds that are currently buffeting the country. The swell should combine with fine weather to usher in the massive cultural gathering of surfing tribes from throughout New Zealand.
Approximately one hundred of the best Maori surfers from around the country will contest nine divisions catering for surfers from the age of ten through to fifty plus.
New Zealand has a long history of top Maori surfers. The natural talent within Maori surfers is none more evident than in the Quiksilver New Zealand team that are currently contesting the 2010 Billabong ISA World Surfing Games in Peru.
Maori surfers Morehu Roberts (Ruapani / Rongowhakaata) and Daniel Procter (Ngati Uepohatu) will represent New Zealand in the Open Men’s and Longboard Divisions respectively. Both surfers are past Maori Titles Champions, Morehu winning the Open Men’s Division in 2004 and Procter winning the Longboard Division last year when the event was held in the Taranaki region.
Procter and Roberts join the likes of 2007 event champion Richard Christie (Rongomawahine) who is currently the highest ranked Kiwi on the ASP Men’s World Tour in 63rd place. Add to that, iconic surfing names etched in New Zealand history such as Daniel Kereopa (Tainui) and Jason Matthews (Te Atiawa) and it is clear that Maori surfers have continually been at the forefront of surfing talent in Aotearoa.
“This whakataetae (competition) is the highlight for Maori surfers and the Maori community. They get to share the Maori approach to the sport with whanaungatanga (being together as a family) and kotahitanga (uniting as a people)” commented event director Steve Ria.
This year the entries have been flowing with social media websites going crazy on word of the pending swell which is sure to bring everyone out of hiding after a long cold winter.
Taranaki surfers won the last two editions of the event when it was held in their home waters. Jason Lellman (Taranaki) won in 2008 with Bachelor Tipene (Ngati Ruanui/Ngati Tuwhare Toa) taking out a hometown hero win in 2009.
Taranaki surfers have had a long affinity with the event but with a move north and away from their coastline, they will come up against some stiff competition, especially from the local Raglan surfers that have been putting in some serious water time of late.
The Santorik brother-sister act (Ngati Raparapa) will be out to keep the titles in Raglan. Jess Santorik is the defending women’s champion while older brother Leon won the event in 2005 when the Auahi Kore Aotearoa Maori Titles were held in Raglan for the first time.
History would also suggest a strong performance from local surfers. The only other time the event was held at Raglan was in 2006 when the event was won by Daniel Kereopa (Tainui).
The surfers will be out to make the most of the event by catching up with whanau and friends as much as contesting the nine titles that are up for grabs.
“For the rangatahi (the youth) that are starting to take surfing seriously as a sport it is humbling for them to be amongst the best of the best Maori surfers from each rohe (region). It encourages them to lift their performance which helps lay the foundations for the future of Maori in the sport” said Ria on the coming together and nine divisions being contested adding “Maori are very expressive surfers and I am looking forward to seeing some explosive surfing in all divisions during the weekend”.
The Aotearoa Maori Titles doubles as a selection event for the New Zealand Maori Team to compete at the Oceania Cup. This event was not held in 2009 and 2010 but plans are afoot to get the event back up and running. The winners of the Open Men’s, Open Women’s and Junior Men’s divisions each receive automatic selection for the New Zealand Maori Team.
The New Zealand team have won the Oceania Cup five times in the past and should the event run in 2011 the New Zealand Maori Surfing Team would be in the running for a sixth title.
Initiated by the Waitara Bar Boardriders Club in 1992 the first event took place in 1993. The Maori Titles was instigated to acknowledge the sporting excellence and commitment that Maori Surfers have achieved at club, national and international level. The Maori Titles embraces kaitiakitanga and is focused toward strengthening whanaungatanga, manaakitanga and kotahitanga.
The Maori Titles is a spiritual awareness for some, a learning curve for others but most importantly it’s a time when family and friends can come together through their tribal links to experience kotahitanga (being as one).
The Auahi Kore Aotearoa Maori Surfing Titles are held annually and the event has become one of the premier events of the Surfing New Zealand events calendar. Labour Weekend is generally the time of the year that the titles are held.
Previous Winners
Open Men’s
2005 Leon Santorik (Ngati Raparapa)
2006 Daniel Kereopa (Tainui)
2007 Richard Christie (Rongomawahine)
2008 Jason Lellman (Taranaki)
2009 Bachelor Tipene (Ruanui)
Under 18 Men’s
2005 Tim O’Connor (Waikato)
2006 Conan James (Te Atiawa)
2007 Bodhi Whitaker (Ngati Whakaue)
2008 Haami Martin (Raglan)
2009 Peri Matenga (Tainui)
Under 16 Men’s
2005 Bodhi Whitaker (Ngati Whakaue)
2006 Johnny Hicks (Ngati Porou)
2007 Johnny Hicks (Ngati Porou)
2008 Johnny Hicks (Ngati Porou)
2009 Todd Doyle (Ngapuhi)
Open Women’s
2005 Jessica Santorik (Ngati Tama/Toa)
2006 Jessica Santorik (Ngati Tama/Toa)
2007 Jessica Santorik (Ngati Tama/Toa)
2008 Jayda Martin – Fitzharris (Gisborne)
2009 Jessica Santorik (Ngati Raparapa)
Longboard
2005 Daniel Kereopa (Tainui)
2006 Jamie Andrews (Ngati Ruanui)
2007 Daniel Kereopa (Tainui)
2008 Jason Matthews (Taranaki)
2009 Daniel Procter (Uepohatu)
Over 30 Men’s
2005 James Fowell (Ngati Kanohi)
2006 Phillip Willoughby (Nga Puhi)
2007 Wayne Cooper (Nga Tai)
2008 James Fowell (Ngati Kanohi)
2009 Jamie Andrews (Ngati Ruanui)
Over 35 Men’s
2005 Phillip Willoughby (Nga Puhi)
2006 Phillip Willoughby (Nga Puhi)
2007 Shaun Coffey (Ngaruahine)
2008 Jason Lellman (Taranaki)
2009 Shaun Coffey (Ngati Ruanui)
Over 40 Men’s
2005 Te Kauhoe Wano (Te Atiawa)
2006 Jason Matthews (Te Atiawa)
2007 Kelvin Louie (Nagti Porou)
2008 Doug Te Ranga (Ngati Te Rangi)
2009 Pipi Ngaia (Te Atiawa)
Event Format
Standard event format with four man heats and 50% progression in all nine divisions. The finals in all divisions will be staged on Sunday the 24th of October.
Divisions
Billabong Open Men’s
Quiksilver Under 18 Men’s
Rapu Under 16 Men’s
Roxy Open Women’s
Hyundai Longboard
Bodyline Over 30 Men’s
Bodyline Over 35 Men’s
Ocean and Earth Over 40 Men’s
Registration
The Powhiri is being held at 5.30pm on Friday 22nd October at Poihakena Marae, Wainui Road, Raglan.
Sponsors
Generous support from the following companies has made this event possible – Auahi Kore the principle supporter of Maori Surfing. Division sponsorship has been provided by Bodyline, Rapu, Roxy, Quiksilver, Billabong, Hyundai and Ocean and Earth.
Further Information
For further information on the 2010 Auahi Kore Aotearoa Maori Titles please contact Surfing New Zealand’s Ben Kennings on 021 2278732 or email benkennings@surfingnz.co.nz. Alternatively contact Surfing New Zealand Maori Coordinator Steve Ria on 021 2278731 or email steve.ria@surfingnz.co.nz.
| Media release, Surfing NZ, Written by Ben Kennings | |
| Thursday, 21 October 2010 |