Owen became the first surfer from Dunedin to win the New Zealand open men’s title with a scintillating performance at the Stent Road beach on the Taranaki coast.
The 16-year-old Otago Boys’ High School pupil won the national under-16 title a year ago and was eager to claim under-18 honours this time.
When his efforts in the under-18 grade fizzled out, he knew he would have to deliver something special to push for open glory, especially as he would be up against rock stars like Billy Stairmand, the Paris Olympian and eight-time national champion, and defending title-holder Daniel Farr.
"I was more focusing on the under-18s, but I had a shocker in the under-18s semis," Owen told the Otago Daily Times yesterday as he and his family began the long drive home.
"After that, I thought, ‘man, I just need to go all out in the opens because that’s all I got’. I just gave it my all.
"I still can’t really believe it. I don’t think it’s fully sunk in yet. But it feels really good.
"It’s the first time the trophy has come to Dunedin, which is pretty crazy."
Owen delivered a clutch performance as he neared his final wave with seconds remaining.
He had surfed to a 7.5-point ride in the final, but was well behind Stairmand and Farr and knew he had to come up with something special as he saw one more wave approaching.
"A real good wave came through at the right time. I thought I surfed it really well, but I knew it would be close.
"It was quite nervous waiting for the score to come through."
He was in tears when he heard his winning score back on the shore.
Stairmand had to settle for second place after leading until the dying stages of the final. Farr finished third and Piha surfer Zen Wallis, appearing in his first national final, was fourth.
Owen, from the South Coast Boardriders Club’s family of wave-catchers, relished the chance to compete against, and beat, Stairmand.
"It’s pretty crazy, because I always looked up to Billy a lot. When I was 8, I got him to sign my tee-shirt.
"Now to be up against him and beat him ... it’s just amazing. Just to surf against the best is amazing, and to beat them is that much better."
Owen, who was fourth at the world junior championships in El Salvador last year, has his sights set firmly on representing New Zealand at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
"This is just a really good confidence boost to show I can compete with guys who are at that level."
His efforts capped a fun week for the Owen family at the national championship.
Younger sister Zara, 12, won the under-14 girls title, older brother Jake made the open quarterfinals, and youngster Thomas — just 10 — competed against the under-14s.
Christchurch surfer Ava Henderson won her second open women’s title after first winning as a 14-year-old surfer in 2020.
Henderson only just made it to the championships after ferry delays and travel complications, and had to surf on a borrowed board.
She surfed to a 16.43 point heat total for the win, ahead of 14-year-old Raglan surfer Alani Morse.
