Surf Boat Crews Converge On Waihi Beach For Championship Weekend

Waihi Beach was alive with colour, culture and competition last weekend as more than 300 athletes descended on the coast for the North Island Surf Boats 2026 championship series.

A total of 48 crews competed across the three-day event, with approximately 310 athletes taking part. Fifty crews were originally entered, with two late withdrawals due to circumstances.

Clubs travelled from across the country, including representation from the South Island with New Brighton Surf Lifesaving Club making the journey north.

The championships opened with a mihi whakatau and karakia delivered by Reon Tuanau of Te Whānau a Tauwhao. He sounded the pūtātara to formally welcome visiting crews and officials to Waihi Beach. Garston Smith, also of Te Whānau a Tauwhao and from Otawhiwhi Marae, followed on the pūpū (conch shell trumpet), acknowledging the shared kaupapa of surf lifesaving and the importance of connection to the moana.

Three championships, one festival weekend

For the first time, three major surf boat competitions were combined into a single long weekend format:

• Friday: Eastern Region Surf Boat Championships
• Saturday: North Island Surf Boat Championships
• Sunday: Champion of Champions finale

The consolidated format was designed to ease travel and cost pressures on clubs while creating a festival-style atmosphere for competitors and supporters.

Competition was fierce across the divisions, with standout performances throughout the weekend.

In the women’s division, Piha Piranahs were the top female team, showcasing strength and consistency across the racing programme.

In the men’s competition, results included:

1st – Paekakariki B-Trains
2nd – Titahi Bay Twin Turbo
3rd – New Brighton Bubble Guppies
4th – New Brighton Stingers
5th – Waihi 4 Men 1 Oar

With surf boats powering through the break, supporters lining the shore, and the Spirit of New Zealand anchored prominently offshore near Mayor Island, the weekend delivered both high-level competition and a memorable coastal spectacle.

The combined championship format is expected to remain a feature in future seasons, with organisers praising the atmosphere and strong turnout from clubs nationwide. For Waihi Beach, it was another successful chapter in its proud surf lifesaving tradition.

FULL RESULTS

ERC Short Course Results – Friday Highlights

Open Men (OM)

1. Omanu Krackens – 6
2. New Brighton X Press – 5
3. Red Beach Boomers – 4
4. Omanu Outlaws – 3
5. Paekakariki B-Trains – 2
6. Titahi Bay Twin Turbo – 1

Under 23 Men (U23 M)

1. Titahi Bay Turbo – 6
2. Paekakariki Jims Rowing – 5
3. Waihi 4 Men 1 Oar – 4
4. New Brighton Baddies – 3

Under 19 Men (U19 M)

1. Titahi Bay A – 6
2. Orewa U19 Male – 5
3. Bethells Big Strokers – 4
4. Muriwai Muscle – 3

Masters Men (MM)

1. Omanu Krackens – 6
2. Orewa Ogres – 5
3. Westshore Tankers – 4
4. Muriwai Menace – 3

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Open Women (OF)

1. Red Beach Bullets – 6
2. Piha Piranhas – 5
3. New Brighton Stingers – 4
4. Omanu Pinkies – 3
5. Paekakariki Pieceheads – 2
6. Paekakariki Mums – 1

Under 23 Women (U23 F)

1. Orewa Lucky Girls – 6
2. Paekakariki Leftovers – 5
3. Red Beach Mavericks – 4
4. Orewa Macca Headaches – 3

Under 19 Women (U19 F)

1. Red Beach Rascals – 6
2. Muriwai Monsters – 5
3. Titahi Bay Tanks – 4
4. New Brighton Buoyz – 3
5. Red Beach Valkyries – 2
6. Sunset Beach Slaydies – 1

Mixed (MF)

1. Omanu Krackettes – 6
2. Muriwai Mixed Nuts – 5
3. Orewa Oldies but Goodies – 4
4. Muriwai Monsters – 1

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Relay Results

1. New Brighton
2. Red Beach
3. Paekakariki
4. Sunset
5. Red Beach (second crew)
6. Orewa

Overall Club Points (ERC)

Red Beach led the standings with 57 points, followed by New Brighton (40), Titahi Bay (35), Paekakariki (35), Omanu (25), Orewa (22), Muriwai (12), Piha (10), Bethells (9), Waihi (8) and Sunset Beach (3)

North Island Long Course Results

Open Men (OM)

1. Red Beach Boomers – 6
2. Paekakariki B-Trains – 5
3. Omanu Outlaws – 4
4. New Brighton Pine EX – 3
5. Omanu Krackens – 2
6. Red Beach Taniwha – 1

Red Beach Boomers continued their strong form, claiming maximum points in a competitive Open Men’s field.

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Under 23 Men (U23 M)

1. Titahi Bay Turbo – 6
2. Waihi 4 Men 1 Oar – 5
3. Paekakariki Jims Rowing – 4
4. New Brighton Baddies – 3
5. Sunset Beach 5 Skins – 2
6. Whangamata – 0

Waihi’s own 4 Men 1 Oar impressed with a second-place finish in front of a home crowd.

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Under 19 Men (U19 M)

1. Titahi Bay A – 6
2. Orewa U19 Male – 5
3. Bethells Big Strokers – 4
4. Muriwai Muscle – 3

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Masters Men (MM)

1. Omanu Krackens – 6
2. Orewa Ogres – 5
3. Westshore Tankers – 4
4. Muriwai Menace – 3
5. Bethells 4 Stroke – 2

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Open Women (OF)

1. Red Beach Bullets – 6
2. Piha Piranhas – 5
3. New Brighton Stingers – 4
4. Omanu Pinkies – 3
5. Paekakariki Mums – 2
6. Red Beach Ragers – 1

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Under 23 Women (U23 F)

1. Paekakariki Leftovers – 6
2. Orewa Macca Headaches – 5
3. Orewa Lucky Girls – 4
4. Red Beach Mavericks – 3
5. New Brighton Buoyz – 2

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Under 19 Women (U19 F)

1. Titahi Bay Tanks – 6
2. Red Beach Valkyries – 5
3. Red Beach Rascals – 4
4. New Brighton Buoyz – 3
5. Muriwai Monsters – 2
6. Sunset Beach Slaydies – 1

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Mixed (MF)

1. Omanu Krackettes – 6
2. Muriwai Mixed Nuts – 5
3. Orewa Oldies but Goodies – 4

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Relay Results

1. Paekakariki – 6
2. Red Beach 1 – 5
3. Titahi Bay – 4

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Overall North Island Points Standings

Red Beach topped the club standings with 31 points, followed by:

• Orewa – 23
• Paekakariki – 23
• Titahi Bay – 22
• Omanu – 21
• New Brighton – 15
• Muriwai – 13
• Bethells – 6
• Piha – 5
• Waihi – 5
• Westshore – 4
• Sunset Beach – 3
• Whangamata – 0

Champion of Champions Results

aekakariki B-Trains
2nd Titahi Bay Twin Turbo
3rd NB Bubble Guppies
4th NB Stingers
5th Waihi 4 Men 1 Oar
6th NB Baddies
7th Piha Piranahs
8th Sunset Beach Social C
9th Red Beach Raiders
10th Titahi Bay Liams Crew
11th Westshore Tankers
12th Muriwai Muscles
13th Omanu Outlaws
14th Bethells Masters
15th Paekakariki Jims Rowing
16th Red Beach Taniwha
17th Whangamata
18th Red Beach Rascals
19th Bethells U19 Men
20th Paekakariki Pieceheads
21st Orewa Slippery / Wet
22nd Sunset Beach Spoons
23rd Muriwai Mixed Nuts
24th Orewa Maccas Headach
25th Muriwai Monsters
26th Red Beach Ragers
27th Titahi Bay Tanks
28th Sunset Beach Slaydies
29th Bethells Henriettas
30th NB Buoys