Surfski racing in New Zealand is no longer a niche pursuit. It’s become a fast-growing, high-adrenaline sport drawing paddlers of all ages to some of the country’s most spectacular coastlines. From the cooler waters of the deep south to the deep blue swells of the Bay of Islands, ocean paddling is surging.
Much of this momentum is thanks to the Darcy Price NZ Ocean Surfski Series, a national circuit of eight premier races held across New Zealand each summer. The series is built to test and thrill paddlers—not only awarding consistent performers but celebrating the country’s diverse ocean conditions. A paddler’s best three races count toward their series tally, and the event that doubles as the New Zealand Ocean Ski National Championships becomes the tie-breaker if points are level.
In 2024/25, those titles went to Ben Keys (men’s), Rebecca Cole (women’s), and Dan Bremner with Morgan Clark (mixed double), all of whom showcased the strategic grit and physical intensity that defines ocean racing.
But this isn’t just a top-end elite showcase. The series is deliberately inclusive, offering age group divisions from juniors to over-70s, as well as mixed and same-gender double ski classes. Whether you’re 17 or 70, lining up alongside champions or just trying to best yesterday’s time, you’re part of something bigger.
At the heart of it is a simple mission: grow the ocean paddling community, challenge individuals to push themselves, and showcase the incredible coastline Aotearoa has to offer. And few would disagree that ocean ski racing is a uniquely Kiwi fit. It combines our coastal geography with our passion for endurance, surf sports, and doing battle with the elements.
The series honours Darcy Price, a beloved paddler and medical professional who helped ignite New Zealand’s modern surfski scene before his passing in 2018. It’s fitting that a series committed to growing the sport he loved bears his name.
In the international scene, New Zealanders are making waves, too. Most recently, Danielle McKenzie cemented her place among the greats by winning the 2025 Molokai Challenge in Hawaii—widely regarded as the world championship of ocean ski racing. Her blistering 3:33:54 finish smashed the previous women’s record by over 13 minutes and delivered a symbolic passing of the torch from previous Kiwi winners like Katie Pocock and Rachel Mayhew (née Clarke). McKenzie’s background in surf lifesaving and Ironwoman racing gives her an edge in complex ocean conditions, and her victory has lit a fresh spark of inspiration for young paddlers back home.
Off the summer circuit, winter racing keeps the paddling community connected. The Paddler Winter Series, with club-hosted races from Auckland to Christchurch, offers shorter distances and a relaxed atmosphere—but competition is still tight, and the finale doubles as the NZ 10km National Championships. As in the Darcy Price Series, points accrue across events, with consistency and endurance as the currency of success.
What sets ocean ski racing apart is its rawness. There’s no lane, no sheltered water. You read the ocean, chase downwind lines, fight fatigue, and sometimes just hang on. The community is close-knit but fiercely competitive, bonded by shared hardship and open-ocean exhilaration.
From beginners learning to read swell to veterans pushing for podiums, New Zealand’s ocean ski scene is growing into something special. It’s fast. It’s wild. And it’s ours.
