Waitakere welcomes world surfing champions

Waitakere welcomes world surfing champions

Waitakere Mayor Bob Harvey is welcoming the world’s best young surfers to the home of Kiwi surfing.

Iconic West Coast beach Piha has been confirmed as the venue for the 2010 Quiksilver ISA World Junior Surfing Championship.

Its strong surfing history makes it an ideal venue for the eight day event, says Mayor Harvey.

“Piha is the birthplace of surfing in New Zealand. The first waves ever surfed in this country were ridden at Piha (by visiting American lifeguards Rick Stoner and Bing Copeland in the 1950s). So the era of New Zealand surfing was born here.

“Fifty years on, it is an honour to welcome the world’s best young surfers back to the home of surfing.

"The wild west coast is the perfect place for a new generation of surfers to test themselves against the best competition and the best waves the world has to offer.”

Waitakere City Council played a key role, along with Surfing New Zealand, in bidding for the event.

The surfing championship will be held from January 20 to 28.

It is expected to involve more than 250 competitors from 30 countries.

ENDS

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