Surf champs come to Piha

The New Zealand National Surfing Championships are coming to Waitakere City’s Piha Beach from January 3 to 11 next year.

It has been 10 years since the championships were last held in the Auckland region.

Hosted by the local Keyhole Boardriders’ Club and supported by Waitakere City Council, the national champs are the most prestigious event on the country’s surfing calendar and have been running since the 1960s.

Some 400 surfers from around the country, ranging in age from 14 to 50-plus, will compete in 18 divisions. Several thousand spectators are also expected.

Up and coming local surfers to watch out for include teenagers Ryan Hawker and Misha Davies.

Waitakere City Mayor Bob Harvey will attend the opening ceremony on Friday 2 January and the prizegiving ceremony on Sunday 11 January. Both ceremonies with take place from 4pm-10pm at the Barnett Hall, Marine Parade, North Piha.

The Piha Domain and Les Waygood Reserve will be available for parking.

Marine Parade South Road will be closed to traffic from 5am on Friday 2 January to 6pm on Sunday 11 January, except for people living along that road.

An alcohol ban will also be in place from 5pm to 5am for the duration of the event.

The event is sponsored by Watties Creamed Rice, Waitakere City Council, Raro, Lion Red, S.P.A.R.C, Smokefree and Surfing New Zealand.

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