Otago Scholastics News
Welcome to the Otago Scholastics Page.
Otago Scholastics is overseen by the South coast boardriders, but has it own sub-committee. It is driven mainly from the parents of junior surfers as well as two competitive junior surfers who are the voices for their peers. As well as input and help from the senior members and generous sponsors.
We have had fantastic results over the years with our juniors and we are pleased to say that this is still the case going into the 2009 season! We currently hold two NZ National Scholastics titles as well as boasting many others in South Island titles and top finals placings Nationally.
Otago region High Schools have embraced the fact that we are surrounded by fantastic coastline and that surfing is one of the highest participation sports in NZ (Hillary commission stats). It is also one of the only sports which uses almost every musle in the body, which can't be a bad thing! and is great fun ! Most schools utilise the services of the Esplande Surf School to give their students a chance to give it a go.
Check here for regular updates for Junior surfers. Scholastic surfing is aimed at age group surfers who attend secondary schools years 9 - 13 (Form 3 - 7)
There are many contests through out the country open to this range of surfers (boys and girls) from U12 - U18. You can go to the Surfing New Zealand or South Island Surfing Assn websites through our links page to see upcomming events that you may wish to enter.
Otago Scholastics hosts the Otago Scholastics Trials which consists of surfers of secondary school age competing in two events locally with the aim to gain a spot in the Otago Scholastic team who will be competing in the New Zealand Scholastic Champs which is to be held in Raglan next April 2009.
You must be a member of an affiliated boardriders club to compete and by joining the South Coastboardriders club, this qualifies you. Junior fees for the season are $40:00 and this gains you entry to all club events over the season.
We are always on the look out for new juniors who wish to compete in various events and can benefit from being part of this.
It is expected that our juniors help with various fundraising events that are set up to send them around the country as it is a very costly and time consuming excersise. Offers of help and idea's are always appreciated.
We have held the top club on several occasions and want to repeat this again with the help of our juniors who are the clubs future.
Judging and coaching courses are held throughout the year for anyone who may not want to compete, but spends alot of time watching the waves to be able to give something back to the club.
Trial dates will be posted here as well as all secondary schools being notified of the dates mid January 2009.
Contact us for more info: otagoscholastics@hotmail.com
Well the Otago Champs are done and dusted with results on the news page.
Our Juniors have been busy flying all over the country lately with a few of the guys competing at the Canterbury Champs 6/7 Feb with Tom Bracegirdle winning the U16 and comming 2nd in the U18 along with Ben Bennett 4th in the U18.
Ben Bennett & Geordi Dearns competed in the Rip Curl Pro at Raglan 20-23 Feb and both made it through to the 2nd round of this 6 star event! They competed in both the pro Junior U20 and the main event of the open mens. These type of events give the juniors great exposure to NZ's best surfers and competing againest them helps them gain confidence in every heat they compete in.
Leroy Rust has been competing on the Hyundai Pro Longboard series and has had some impressive results so far! Leroy has been in our Scloastic team for the past few years and is a competitive surfer on both longboard & shortboard. Good luck for the rest of the series.
A few of our juniors are taking off to Westports Go for Gold comp this weekend 27-Feb-1 March and will be vaing for points on the hotly contested Junior and Cadet ladder for the SISA cicuit.
Our Juniors are keeping the South Coast Boardriders at 3rd on the overall ratings at the moment with us comming up to the half way point for the season. Good Luck to all!!!
OTAGO REGIONAL SCHOLASTIC TRIAL DATES 2009
14 FEBRUARY - SATURDAY OTAGO CHAMPS - MEET 7:30AM ST CLAIR BEACH
8 MARCH - SUNDAY - KARITANE SURF FESTIVAL MEET 8AM BACK BEACH KARITANE
ENTRY FORM FOR THE FIRST SCHOLASTICS TRIAL AVAILABLE ON OUR ENTRY FORMS PAGE.
And from the webpage of www.surfaotearoa.co.nz
one of NZ's best surf photog's J.D. Daniels caught our local boys in Christchurch......with kind words!
Two Dunedin Grom Rippers Ben Bennett rips on both his forehand and backhand. Plus he has a really stylish way in which he sets up and pulls all moves.
Watch out for this guy from Surf City in the future!!!
Geordi Dearns
Congratulations to Jae Kilgour, Tom Bracegirdle, Geordi Dearns & Ben Bennett who all recieved KINGS HIGH SCHOOL BLUES for excellence in surfing
OTAGO SCHOLASTICS TEAM 2008 - TARANAKI
Leroy Rust 1st Longboard Final NZ National Scholastic Champs
Geordi Dearns 1st Kneeboard Final NZ National Scholastic Champs
Ben Bennett 2nd U16 Final NZ National Scholastic Champs
Team members were: Leroy Rust, Jimmy Crooks, Ben Bennett, Geordi Dearns, Jordan Durst, Tom Bracegirdle, Jae Kilgour with Scott James -Manager & Nat Parsons -Coach
YOU COULD BE NEXT!!!
