Historic win makes waves

Dunedin surfer Alexis Owen charges to victory in the New Zealand national surfing championships...
Dunedin surfer Alexis Owen charges to victory in the New Zealand national surfing championships near New Plymouth on Saturday. PHOTO: PHOTOCPL
Alexis Owen turned disappointment into delight as he surfed into the history books off the Taranaki coast on Saturday.

Alexis Owen
Alexis Owen
Owen, a 16-year-old student at Otago Boys’ High School, caused a major upset when he became the first Dunedin surfer to win the New Zealand open men’s title since the national championships began in 1963.

He upstaged eight-time champion Billy Stairmand, who represented New Zealand at the Paris Olympics on the sport’s debut last year, and defending champion and local favourite Daniel Farr.

Owen left it remarkably late, earning his winning score on literally the last wave he caught.

"I had no idea if I got the score, but I knew it would be close," he said.

"I surfed the wave for what it was, gave it everything. I had one shot.

"When I heard the score, I broke out in tears."

Owen, who won the New Zealand under-16 title and was fourth at the world junior championships last year, made it a family celebration in Taranaki.

His younger sister, Zara, won the New Zealand under-14 girls title, and brothers Jake and Thomas also competed at the event.