Aimee-Jane Brown, our very own Great Barrier Island legend, has taken the crown in the Open Women’s Division at the King and Queen of the Point surfing competition held in Raglan. The event concluded last Sunday after an intense three days of surfing at Manu Bay.
The finals day saw challenging conditions, with a slow-building swell and strengthening southwest winds.
“Pretty hard out there, I am not going to lie, I am pretty unfit at the moment,” Brown told Surf NZ, after the win.
Brown faced stiff competition from other top surfers, including Australian surfer Dimity Stoyle and New Zealand Junior Surfing Team member Alani Morse.
“For the first 15 minutes I was getting smoked from all the young girls paddling rings around me, they are so lively but I guess I kept fighting and got a few waves in the end,” Brown said.
She finished the final with a total of 12.03 points, her last gasp effort for the win pushing her from fourth to first with a 6.83 point ride for committed surfing.
“I thought I needed to do something big on that last wave, that was my last opportunity, so it was good to put it up there and complete that turn,” said Brown who has taken a break from competing over recent years.
Close friends including Rach Hudson were in the crowd at Manu Bay cheering Brown on for the thrilling final heat.
“It was non stop close outs. Her first wave was a 0.4 because she clearly knew it was going nowhere and to conserve that energy. Second wave at around 10 minutes to go was 3 beautiful carves earning her a 5.2.” Hudson added.
“It started to get a little nail biting but I knew how strong she is and how much more experienced she was than the other 3. In the last 2 minutes she had priority and was far better positioned, she paddled hard got the wave and absolutely smashed it,” Rach explained.
2024 is the first year Aimee-Jane is competing without her father, local Barrier legend Mike Brown, who sadly passed away just before Christmas. The 23-year-old has been doing her dad proud. In April, she reached the finals of the Aotearoa Surf Pro, demonstrating her consistent form and talent in the water.
“It has been really good for myself and my mental health and I am trying to enjoy competing and not put pressure on myself”, she said.
Hudson said she immediately thought of Mike, the struggles the family had faced, and the determination all the Browns embody as a whānau.
“There were some tears”, she said.
“I just felt in awe of the incredibly strong and phenomenal woman I’ve always known her to be.” she added.
Brown’s victory at the King and Queen of the Point further solidifies her position as one of New Zealand’s top female surfers.
Aimee’s win is testament to the sheer determination all the Browns share as a whānau, with her younger brother winning Gold in the Special Olympics Golf in 2023.
Your island whānau are so immensely proud of you Aimee!
About the King and Queen of the Point
The King and Queen of the Point is a major event on the New Zealand surfing calendar, attracting top surfers from around the country and overseas. The competition features various divisions, including Open Men, Open Women, Under 20 Boys, and Under 20 Girls.
This year’s event saw a mix of experienced professionals and up-and-coming talent, with surfers like Kehu Butler returning from competing abroad and young stars like Alani Morse making their mark.
The competition was held in Manu Bay, Raglan, a renowned surf spot known for its powerful left-hand breaks. The challenging conditions provided a true test of skill and determination for all the competitors.
Original article from AoteaGBI.news
