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Another win for talented ACG Sunderland surfer

ACG Sunderland’s Mathias Thompson has secured his place as Auckland’s top-ranked Under 14 boys surfer.

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Student Mathias Thompson surfing

The Year 10 student aced his division at the recent Scholastics Surfing Auckland Series, ranking third in the opening trial and gaining first place in the second and third competitions. Now he’s on his way to Kaikoura to represent Auckland at the National Scholastic Surfing Championships, which take place in October.

“It was challenging having to come back from a disappointing result in the first trial, but it was great to live up to my seeding and expectations as the number one under 14 year old boy in Auckland,” says Mathias.

“I’m definitely over the moon to secure a place in the Auckland team and take out the series.”

Considered to be the pinnacle of junior surfing in New Zealand, the five day national event draws stiff competition. But Mathias – who is currently ranked number three in New Zealand for his age group – is focussed on making it all the way to the top.

“The competition will be hard as usual but my goal for the National Scholastics is to win the U14 boys.”

The talented teen is no stranger to competing. In 2018 he placed third in both the Auckland and the New Zealand Primary School Surf Championships. Also that year he took out third place in Taranaki’s Rip Curl GromSearch as an Under 12, and made his first New Zealand Under 14 final in Whangamata, placing fourth. Last year he placed second in the Scholastics Surfing Auckland Series, going on to compete at the Nationals in Raglan, and 2020 has been another blockbuster. In addition to his success at this year’s Scholastics, Mathias made the finals in back to back events in the Billabong Grom series, finishing second overall in his age division.

And given the dedicated athlete’s commitment to the sport, it’s not surprising he is such a superstar. When the waves are good, Mathias surfs for two hours every day after school, and up to six hours each day at the weekends.

“My dad is a surfer and when I was 10, he thought it would be a good idea to get me into the water to try something new. Ever since then, surfing has taken over my life. I love being in the water with all my mates and having a good time.”

Mathias has surfed all over the world, including some of the most renowned breaks in Bali, Australia, and Fiji, but the Piha local believes the best waves are right here on his doorstep.

“Piha will always be my home and my favourite surf spot.”

So where to now for this talented surfer?

“My goal at the moment is to just keep surfing. Hopefully, I’ll make the New Zealand team in two years’ time and then carry on to the qualifying series for the World Surf League (WSL).”