Darcy Price
NZ Ocean Surfski Series
The Darcy Price NZ Ocean Surfski Series is the national ocean racing series comprising of the premier surfski races around Aotearoa.
The Darcy Price series is made up of 7 events each summer, one of which will also double as the NZ Ocean Racing National Championships. A paddler’s best 4 races will count towards the series results, with a prize-giving at the final event.
These events will also contribute to the selection criteria for the ICF Ocean Surfski Worlds teams.
With this series we hope to:
1. Promote the sport and grow the paddling community.
2. Encourage paddlers to compete, challenge themselves and experience these fantastic events.
3. Provide a pathway for paddlers to compete in international surfski events.
Races & Dates for 2021/22 season
Poor Knights Crossing
Tutukaka - Saturday 11th September 2021 - Cancelled
Windy City Downwind
Te Whanganui a Tara | Wellington - Saturday 30th October 2021
Auckland King & Queen of the Harbour
Tamaki Makaurau | Auckland - Postponed (new date TBC)
Paddler Virtual Champs
Virtual - 1st to 31st January 2022
James Moore-morial “Bhutty Moore” Race
Tauranga | Mt Maunganui - Saturday 5th February 2022
Queen and King of the Bay*
Whakatu | Nelson - 26/27 February 2022
*doubles as 2022 NZ Ocean Racing National Championships. National Championship race is on Saturday 26 February 2022.
Heads to Harbour
Whakatane - Saturday 26th March 2022
Darcy Price Series and Points
A competitor’s series points will be the total of their best 4 race points. The male and female paddler with the most points at the end of the series will be the Darcy Price NZ Ocean Racing Series Champion for that season.
All races are to be worth 300 points, except the race designated as the National Championships. This will be worth 400 points.
All Races (except National Championships)
1st: 300 points
2nd: 290 points
3rd: 281 points
4th: 273 points
5th: 266 points
6th: 260 points
7th: 255 points
8th: 251 points
9th: 248 points
10th: 246 points
11th onwards – one point gap between placings 245, 244, 245 etc
National Championship race
1st: 400 points
2nd: 380 points
3rd: 362 points
4th: 346 points
5th: 332 points
6th: 320 points
7th: 310 points
8th: 302 points
9th: 296 points
10th: 292 points
11th: 290 points
12th onwards – one point gap between placings 289, 288, 287 etc
In the event of total series points being equal following the conclusion of the series, the NZ Ocean Racing Nationals Championships will be the deciding race.
International competitors are eligible for Darcy Price series points.
Age groups/divisions
All races in the series will follow the following age categories (with both male and female divisions):
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Junior Ski (18yrs and under)
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Under 23 Ski (19 to 23yrs)
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Open Ski (Open! Includes all age categories)
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Over 40 Ski (40-49yrs)
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Over 50 Ski (50-59yrs)
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Over 60 Ski (60+yrs)
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Double Ski Open (no age groups)
There's no need to decide what age group you want to race- it's calculated automatically based on your date of birth (and your age at 31 December of the year of the race). Everyone is eligible for Open rankings in addition to their age group.
For the purpose of the Darcy Price Series scoring, competitors' age groups are calculated based on the age they are turning in the year of the last race of the series. For example, for the 2021-2022 series, competitors' age groups will be determined as at 31/12/22.
Past Darcy Price Series winners
2020/2021
Male: Ben Keys
Female: Danika Mowlem
2019/2020
Male: Ben Keys
Female: Rachel Clarke
About Darcy Price
The series has been named after Darcy Price, who sadly passed away in 2018. Darcy was one of the driving forces behind ski paddling in New Zealand, founding the King and Queen of the Harbour and the Takapuna Beach Series surfski races. He was also an accomplished anaesthetist and was well known in medical circles for his practice and research. Most of all, he was a fantastic guy and enthusiastic paddling companion, many of us have fond memories of surfski adventures shared with Darcy. We feel that this is a fitting tribute to Darcy and that he would have loved the idea of promoting surfski paddling again in New Zealand, giving more people the opportunity to enjoy this great sport in some beautiful parts of the country.