The Darcy Price NZ Ocean Surfski Series is the national ocean racing series comprising of the premier surfski races around Aotearoa. 

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The Darcy Price series is made up of 8 events each summer, one of which will also double as the NZ Ocean Racing National Championships. A paddler’s best 3 races will count towards the series results, with winners recognised at the final event. 

 

With this series we hope to:

1. Promote the sport and grow the ocean paddling community.
2. Encourage paddlers to compete, challenge themselves and experience these fantastic events.

3. Showcase the amazing ocean paddling we have all around Aotearoa New Zealand
4. Provide a pathway for paddlers to improve and compete in international ocean ski events.

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2024/25 SERIES FINAL RESULTS

Click link above to see the provisional series results after all series races

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2025/26 SERIES

 

Series Races for 2025/26 season

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Windy City Downwind* 

Te Whanganui a Tara | Wellington - Saturday 4th October 2025​​

*This event doubles as the 2025 NZ Ocean Ski National Championships

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TAWHITI RAHI COASTAL CHALLENGE

Tutukaka - Saturday 11th October 2025

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Deep SOuth Downwind*

Tāhuna | Queenstown - Saturday 6th December 2025

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Paddler Virtual Champs 

Aotearoa | Virtual - 1st to 31st January 2026

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James Moore-morial “Bhutty Moore” Race

Tauranga | Mt Maunganui - Saturday 7th February 2026

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Queen and King of the Bay

Te Tai o Aorere | Tasman - 13/14 March 2026

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Heads to Harbour

Whakatane - Saturday 4th April 2026

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Auckland King & Queen of the Harbour

Tamaki Makaurau | Auckland -Saturday 9th May 2026​​​

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Darcy Price Series and Points

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A competitor’s series points will be the total of their best THREE race points. The male, female and mixed doubleski paddlers with the most points at the end of the series will be the Darcy Price NZ Ocean Racing Series Champions for that season.

Points are allocated per event based on a paddler's result. Events are weighted so that some events are worth more points than other events. Point allocation for each event is as follows:​​

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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):

• Junior Ski (18yrs and under)

• Under 23 Ski (19 to 23yrs)

• Open Ski (Open means overall and includes all age categories)

• Over 40 Ski (40-49yrs)

• Over 50 Ski (50-59yrs)

• Over 60 Ski (60-69yrs)

• Over 70 Ski (70+yrs)

• Double Ski Open (no age groups, mixed, male and female)

 

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 2024-2025 series, competitors' age groups will be determined as at 31/12/25.
 

 

Darcy Price Series OVERall winners

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2024/2025

Male: Ben Keys

Female: Rebecca Cole

Mixed double: Dan Bremner/Morgan Clark

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2023/2024

Male: Gene Prato

Female: Danika Mowlem

Mixed double: Dan Bremner/Claire Sykes

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2022/2023

Male: Tim Waller

Female: Danika Mowlem

Doubleski: Dan Bremner/Amber Bonny

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2021/2022

Male: Chris Emmett

Female: Danika Mowlem

Mixed double: Dan Bremner/Amber Bonny

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2020/2021

Male: Ben Keys

Female: Danika Mowlem

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2019/2020

Male: Ben Keys

Female: Rachel Clarke

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See all series results

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