Water sports: Taranaki kneeboarders off to World Champs

A strong Taranaki contingent is heading to Brazil as part of the New Zealand team for the Kneeboard Surfing World Championships.

The world titles will be held at Saquarema, Brazil, from August 22 to 30, with the event being staged in South America for the first time.

Taranaki will be heavily represented in the five-strong New Zealand team, with Hamish Christophers, Josh Christophers, Paul Christophers and Paul Gledhill joined by Neil Gowthorpe.

Kelvin Weir will travel as team captain and coach, while Murray Weir will manage the New Zealand side.

It will be a return to the world stage for several of the Taranaki contingent after strong performances at the previous championships at Jeffreys Bay, South Africa, in 2024.

Hamish Christophers was one of New Zealand's standout performers there, winning the Masters world title and finishing equal third in the Open division.

Murray Weir finished second in the Invincibles division for competitors aged 70 and over, while Paul Christophers was third. New Zealand also finished fourth in the Aloha Cup teams event.

Australia's Chayne Simpson will head to Brazil as the defending Open men's world champion after beating compatriot Albert Munoz in the 2024 final.

The Brazilian championships begin with the opening ceremony on August 22, with competition running through to August 30.

Organisers have described the staging of the championships in Saquarema as a historic milestone for the sport, with Brazil hosting the event for the first time.

The New Zealand team will also have a sizeable group of supporters travelling with it, including Vanessa Weir, Tarsha Gowthorpe, Moya Christophers, Julia Phillips, and Kevin and June Gledhill.