Billy Stairmand

Only a handful of people can say they competed when surfing made its Olympic debut - and Kiwi Billy Stairmand is one of them.

An eight-time New Zealand professional surfing national champion, Billy has spent over a decade on the international circuit, collecting numerous event wins along the way. He made history at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics as the first and only male surfer to represent New Zealand, and went on to compete again at the 2024 Paris Olympics, cementing his place as one of the sport’s most consistent and celebrated Kiwi athletes.

The journey from catching waves as a nine-year-old in the tiny seaside settlement of Raglan, to competing on the world surfing stage in front of an audience of millions, has been no mean feat, with many challenges along the way.

Billy grew up in a big family and his parents supported him to pursue his love of sports; it was Billy’s dad (to this day, his best friend) who pushed him on to his first wave as a youngster, and his love of the ocean and surfing quickly became his main passion. He attended the famed Raglan Surf Academy at Raglan Area School, where his prowess progressed quickly.

Billy became known for his all-round game, which makes him competitive in any conditions. He won his first competition at 13, rising through the ranks and winning his first national title in 2010; he established himself on the international scene the following year, by defeating 11-time world champion Kelly Slater at the Telstra Drug Aware Pro in Australia.

An outdoors and adventurous person at heart, Billy loves exploring his own backyard of New Zealand just as much as he enjoys travelling the world to surf and compete. Away from the ocean, he’s into basketball, golf, skateboarding, snowboarding, and adventure travel – always seeking new experiences and connections.