“Back-to-Back” Glory: Mount Teen Defends National U16 Surfing Title in Gisborne Gale

By Lions Roar News Sports Desk

GISBORNE, NEW ZEALAND (Tuesday, January 20, 2026) — Amidst howling winds and crashing surf at Gisborne beach, 15-year-old Vitor Bauermann has etched his name into New Zealand surfing history. Floating in the choppy waters, unable to hear the loudspeakers over the gale, the Mount Maunganui teen had no idea he had just defended his Under-16 Boys National Title until he saw his mates cheering on the sand.

The victory, achieved during the New Zealand National Surfing Championships (Jan 11–17), makes Bauermann a two-time national champion and secures his ticket to represent Aotearoa on the world stage later this year.

🌊 The Final: Surfing Blind

The conditions for the final were “really windy,” creating a stressful environment for the competitors who couldn’t track the live scores.

The Strategy: Bauermann opened strong with two high-scoring waves before the set went quiet. A late, clutch ride in the dying seconds ultimately edged him ahead on points.
The Realization: “I think I won,” Bauermann recalled thinking as he paddled in to see his supporters with their arms in the air.
The Defense: This is Bauermann’s second consecutive U16 title, having first claimed the crown in Taranaki last year.

✈️ Destination: El Salvador

Winning the national title isn’t just about the trophy; it comes with automatic selection for the New Zealand Junior Team. Bauermann will head to El Salvador for the 2026 ISA World Junior Surfing Championship.

This follows a successful 2025 campaign where he placed 13th in the world at the junior championships in Peru. To maintain this elite level, Bauermann now studies online, allowing him to split his time between Mount Maunganui and intensive training in Coolangatta, Australia.

🏆 Bay of Plenty Dominance

The Mount Maunganui surf community had plenty to celebrate as several other local athletes stood out among the 400 entries:

Jaxon Willows (Mount Maunganui): Claimed double national titles in the longboard divisions and shared the prestigious Peter Byers Most Outstanding Performance Award.
Ariana Walker (Mount Maunganui): Tied for fourth in the Open Women’s division, but was ranked higher thanks to a massive 7.40 single-wave score.
Lola Groube: Celebrated her first-ever national title in the Under-16 Girls division.

📊 NZ National Surfing Champs 2026: Key Results

Division	Winner	Hometown
U16 Boys (Champion)	Vitor Bauermann	Mount Maunganui
U16 Girls (Champion)	Lola Groube	Pauanui
Longboard (Double Title)	Jaxon Willows	Mount Maunganui
Outstanding Performance	Jaxon Willows	Mount Maunganui
Open Women (High Score)	Ariana Walker	Mount Maunganui