Surfing: Young New Plymouth surfer named in NZ longboarding team

New Plymouth teenager Izaro Williamson Sasia will take on the world’s best after being named in New Zealand’s youngest-ever longboarding team.

Williamson Sasia will be part of the four-strong New Zealand squad heading to El Salvador for the 2026 ISA World Longboard Championships in October, with every member of the team still under 20 when competition begins.

The New Plymouth surfer earned her place after an impressive season in which she claimed both the national Open Women’s and Under-18 longboard titles.

She is also ranked seventh in the World Surf League Australia/Oceania qualifying series.

Williamson Sasia will be joined by Christchurch’s Jack Tyro, Mount Maunganui’s Jaxon Willows and Gisborne’s Te Waiotu Fairlie.

The Taranaki teenager has already tested herself against international-level competition on her home waves this year, reaching the quarter-finals of the inaugural Egmont Honey Pro at Fitzroy Beach.

The event was the first WSL-sanctioned longboard competition held in New Zealand and also proved successful for her future international teammates.

Tyro won the men's event before going on to compete on the WSL Longboard Tour, while Fairlie reached the women's final and Willows narrowly missed a World Tour qualifying position.

Surfing New Zealand chief executive Ben Kennings said despite the team's youth, its members already had considerable experience.

“We know the challenge awaiting the team in El Salvador is considerable. The ISA World Longboard Championships attract the very best surfers from around the globe, representing nations with decades of investment and international experience,” he said.

“Yet there is a growing sense that this young New Zealand squad is capable of something special.”

Tyro, 19, will captain the team and is currently ranked second in the WSL Australia/Oceania qualifying series and ninth-equal in the world after competing at the opening stop of the Longboard Tour.

Willows holds the national Open Men's and Under-18 titles and is third in the regional qualifying series, while Fairlie is the reigning New Zealand Festival of Longboarding champion and ranked fifth.

The team's campaign also has another Taranaki connection, with Swiss-Belhotel International, which has links to the region, joining as presenting sponsor.

Colliers New Zealand has been announced as the team's naming rights sponsor, while Mackersy Property and Gisborne apparel company Wai-Tai Aotearoa are also supporting the campaign.