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Billabong Pro Relishes Brief But Spectacular Swell |
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Written by Ben Kennings
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Saturday, 29 January 2011 |
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Jay Quinn - Image Cory / NZ Surfing Magazine
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Cyclone Wilma delivered an exceptional but short lived swell for the first day of the Billabong Pro presented by Sony held at Whangamata today (Saturday 29th January) with surfers having a blast in the solid 2.0m waves.
The third event of the SOL Surf Series started out in average conditions which soon built to a ‘bombing’ swell with waves filling the bay and giving spectators some thrilling action to witness thanks to cyclone Wilma. However, by the time the top seeds hit the water mid afternoon, the swell had began to dissipate as the tropical cyclone slid down past the East Cape.
Current SOL Surf Series ratings leader and winner of the first two events of the year including the National Championships, Jay Quinn (Gis), was in sublime form surfing to the highest heat score of the day 17.65 out of a possible 20. Quinn’s performance was epitomised by his near perfect last wave which scored 9.65 out of a possible 10.
Despite the excellent start to his campaign, Quinn was playing down his form. “It was good out there but I had a bit of a dodgy start to the heat – the waves were soft” said Quinn referring to the disappearing swell and strong offshore winds. “The swell faded in two hours pretty much. I came down this morning and watched a few heats then went home and now the surf is half the size.”
Quinn is hopeful of his third straight win on the SOL Surf Series but is happy to focus on getting through a few more heats and into the final before he thinks of a ‘threepeat’. “Obviously I am keen to pull it off, just have to focus on getting through to the final first” said Quinn.
Quinn found himself up against Richard Christie (Mah) and local hope Gauranga Ormond in his first heat of the day. The toughest heat of the round ensued with Christie getting the nod over Ormond for progression into the quarterfinals.
“Stoked to get through, it was a tough heat, especially with local surfer Rangi Ormond” said Christie. “The waves are still fun, but they are dropping a lot.”
Christie has been pipped by Quinn twice in the last two weeks, including the final of the National Championships held at Dunedin. “I would really love to win a comp in NZ, it has been a while, I would love to have that feeling again.”
International travelling companion to Quinn and Christie, Raglan’s Billy Stairmand, was another big winner in his opening heat scoring 14.25 out of a possible 20 points. Stairmand progressed alongside Mount Maunganui hopeful Tim O’Connor together defeating Zen Wallis (Piha) and Zennor Wernham (Rag).
Stairmand and O’Connor will be two surfers to watch if the surf continues to drop, both surfers having exceptional ability to surf in small waves.
Defending event champion Maz Quinn (Gis) had an anxious wait all day after being stranded at Tairua until 2pm in the afternoon due to the extensive overnight flooding. Fortunately the road between the two Coromandel seaside resorts opened allowing him to race over the hill in time for his heat which he went on win scoring 12.0 to progress alongside Luke Cederman (Rag).
Other form surfers progressing through to the quarterfinals include ex pat Kiwi, Oli Adams who now resides in the UK but is back in New Zealand for an extended honeymoon, Luke Hughes (Rag), Chris Malone (Rag) and Keone Campbell (Tara).
Whangamata has two surfers alive in the Open Men’s Division with Matt Scorringe and Dean Amess both progressing through to the last 16 surfers.
The Billabong Pro presented by Sony frequents Whangamata for the seventh straight year and is fast becoming an iconic summer event on Auckland Anniversary weekend. The event is the biggest and richest event on the 2010/11 SOL Series to date. Over $12,000 in prize money is up for grabs as well as amazing prizes from Pacific Blue and Sony.
The Pacific Blue Highest Heat Score award is currently being led by Jay Quinn with a 17.65 point heat total. Quinn also leads the race for the Sony Playstation best move for the air reverse he nailed in his first heat.
Day two of the Billabong Pro presented by Sony will take place from 8.00am – 4.00pm on Sunday. Surf permitting, it is highly likely that the event will conclude on Sunday afternoon to avoid a flat ocean on Monday.
Please see below for results from day one of the Billabong Pro presented by Sony – event 3 of the SOL Surf Series held at Whangamata Beach today (Saturday 29th January).
Open Men’s Round 1
Heat 1
Dune Kennings (Whmata), 13, 1, Patxi Scott Arrieta (Sandy Bay), 10.1, 2, Peri Matenga (Mt), 7.5, 3
Heat 2
Oli Adams (Rag), 12.5, 1, Jeremy Grainger (Tara), 7.1, 2, Paul Moretti (Mimiwhangata), 5.6, 3
Heat 3
Braedon Williams (Whmata), 9.5, 1, JC Susan (Mnt), 7.35, 2, Thomas Poulsen (Whgrei), N/S, Gavin Linnow (Mnt), N/S
Heat 4
Richard Christie (Mahia), 1, Lyndon Hutton (Dun), 2, Ben Connolly (Tara), N/S
Heat 5
Dean Amess (Whmata), 11.6, 1, Elliot Paerata Reid (Piha), 9.75, 2, Ricky Parker (Whmata), 8.85, 3,
Heat 6
Larry Fisher (Rag), 11, 1, Dane Simpson (Gis), 10.85, 2, Charlie Denniston (Mast), 2.25, 3
Heat 7
Joe Moretti (Mimiwhangata), 10.8, 1, Felix Dickson (Dun), 9.75, 2, Rick Lasch (Piha), 5.25, 3, Waretini Wano (Piha), 3.4, 4
Heat 8
Christo Gilbert H-Bay), 12.8, 1, Luke Cederman (Rag), 10, 2, Mike Banks (Rag), N/S
Open Men’s Division Round 2
Heat 1
Dune Kennings (Whmata), 12, 1, Zennor Wernham (Rag), 7.6, 2, Jeremy Grainger (Tara), 5.85, 3, Jacob Kohn (Gis), 3.75, 4
Heat 2
Zen Wallis (Piha), 13.8, 1, Oli Adams (Rag), 10.8, 2, Matt Hishon (Rag), 4.35, 3, Patxi Scott Arrieta (Sandy Bay), 3.85, 4
Heat 3
Che Whitaker (Gis), 9.5, 1, Braedon Williams (Whmata), 8.9, 2, Lyndon Hutton (Dun), 3, 3, Sean Peggs (Tairua), N/S
Heat 4
Richard Christie (Mahia), 16.8, 1, JC Susan (Mnt), 7.25, 2, Sam Willis (Gis), 1.7, 3, Tyler Lawson (H-Bay), N/S
Heat 5
Dane Simpson (Gis), 10.1, 1, Dean Amess (Whmata), 9.65, 2, Scott Casey (Auck), 8.55, 3, Adam Grimson (Gis), 7.6, 4
Heat 6
Deane Hishon (Rag), 8.45, 1, Todd Doyle (Mnt), 7.35, 2, Elliot Paerata Reid (Piha), 6.45, 3, Larry Fisher (Rag), 5.25, 4
Heat 7
Luke Cederman (Rag), 13.5, 1, Joe Moretti (Mimiwhangata), 11.3, 2, AJ Matthews (Whmata), 3.1, 3, Ben Poulter (Rag), N/S
Heat 8
Matt Scorringe (Whmata), 12.3, 1, Tim Thompson (Auck), 9.1, 2, Felix Dickson (Dun), 7.8, 3, Christo Gilbert H-Bay), 3.05, 4
Open Men’s Division Round 3
Heat 1
Oli Adams (Rag), 14.5, 1, Keone Campbell (Tara), 12.5, 2, Ben Kennings (Whmata), 8.4, 3, Dune Kennings (Whmata), 8.07, 4
Heat 2
Billy Stairmand (Rag) , 14.25, 1, Tim O'Connor (Mnt), 13.85, 2, Zennor Wernham (Rag), 9.55, 3, Zen Wallis (Piha), 9.25, 4
Heat 3
Nick White (Mnt), 11.5, 1, Leon Santorik (Rag), 9.4, 2, Che Whitaker (Gis), 6.65, 3, JC Susan (Mnt), 5.35, 4
Heat 4
Jay Quinn (Gis), 17.65, 1, Richard Christie (Mahia), 14, 2, Braedon Williams (Whmata), 11, 3, Gauranga Ormond (Whmata), 10.6, 4
Heat 5
Chris Malone (Gis), 9.9, 1, Blair Stewart (Gis), 9.15, 2, Dane Simpson (Gis), 6.5, 3, Todd Doyle (Mnt), 5.2, 4
Heat 6
Luke Hughes (Rag), 12.3, 1, Dean Amess (Whmata), 11.9, 2, Jarred Hancox (Tara), 10.25, 3, Deane Hishon (Rag), 6.5, 4
Heat 7
Maz Quinn (Gis), 12, 1, Luke Cederman (Rag), 11, 2, Ryan Hawker (Piha), 7.85, 3, Tim Thompson (Auck), 5.2, 4
Heat 8
Matt Scorringe (Whmata), 12.85, 1, Tane Wallis (Piha), 10.6, 2, Morehu Roberts (Rag), 9.8, 3, Joe Moretti (Mimiwhangata), 9.35, 4
Please see below for the remaining three events that make up the 20010/11 SOL Surf Series.
Sol Series Event 4 - 12-13 February - Power Balance Pro, Mount Maunganui (4-star)
Sol Series Event 5 - 11-13 March - Rip Curl Pro pres by Nature Valley, Raglan (6-star)
Sol Series Event 6 - 2-3 April SOL Super 16, Mobile (6-star)
Entry into the events can be completed at Surfing New Zealand under events. Complete the entry process online or download entry forms and send them in. The 2011 SOL Surf Series is expected to receive high entry levels so entrants will need to be in well before the cut off dates to assure themselves a slice of the action.
Further Information
For further information on the Billabong Pro presented by Sony please contact Surfing New Zealand’s Ben Kennings on 021 2278732 or email benkennings@surfingnz.co.nz. Alternatively contact Billabong Event Manager AJ Matthews on 0212416227 or email aj.matthews@billabong.co.nz.
Imagery
Web clips and newsfeeds will be distributed free of charge from each event. Please contact Ben Kennings for further details.
High resolution action images of the surfing at all events on the SOL Surf Series will be available to media free of charge upon request.
Event Hotline
The Surfing New Zealand event hotline is 0211134506. This will be updated daily at approximately 7am with venue, divisions contested and conditions.
Partners
Generous support from Billabong, SOL, Sony, Monster, Von Zipper, Kustom, Nixon, Palmers, Pacific Blue and Honda Aquatrax has made this event possible.
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Ends
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