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Christie Home To Hone Skills Before Major Events |
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Written by Ben Kennings
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Friday, 11 March 2011 |
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Richard Christie - Image Silas / Kiwi Surf Magazine
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Hot off a fleeting trip to Brazil, New Zealand’s top internationally ranked surfer Richard Christie (Mah) made easy work of his early round match up at the Rip Curl Pro presented by Nature Valley.
The event is the fifth of six stops on the SOL Surf Series with the final SOL Super 16 taking place during early April.
Christie scored 14.90 out of a possible 20 points to win his Round of 48 heat over Patxi Scott – Arrieta (Sandy Bay), Sam Deeley (USA) and Tyler Anderson (Tara) in 0.50m waves at the back up location of Ruapuke south of Raglan today (Friday 11th March).
Christie was ranked 65th on the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Tour in 2010 and kicked off his campaign this year with a trip to Brazil in February.
“I got back from Brazil two weeks ago. It was a pretty cool trip, it was the first time I have been to that place” said Christie who said the event was a “a bit of a wake up call” after what he described as a ‘cruisey’ summer. Both Christie and his travelling partner Billy Stairmand (Rag) were eliminated in their first heats of the event in Brazil.
Christie sees the rip Curl Pro pres by Nature Valley being held this weekend as a good opportunity to get some practice in before he heads back to Gisborne and contests the richest event to ever reach New Zealand shores in two weeks time.
“I am looking forward to all the top surfers in the world coming to Gisborne, it will be the first time I have been able to compete at that level in New Zealand so it is a great opportunity” said Christie.
Christie will miss the SOL Super 16 due to further international commitments in Australia. “I want to make sure that I do well at my last domestic event here in New Zealand this summer and this comp will also help get me into form for the ASP event at Gissy” commented Christie.
Auckland surfer Tim Thompson was another form surfer in the early rounds scoring an impressive 15.40 point heat total – the highest of the day in his first heat. Finding himself well behind the pace mid way through the heat, Thompson caught two great rides late in the heat of 7.9 and 7.50.
Both Thompson and the aforementioned Christie will contest heats late this afternoon in a bid to move through to the quarterfinals of the Open Men’s Division.
The Under 20 Men’s Division had to suffer through the low tide early in the morning where good waves were hard to come by on a small peak that offered up very little in the way of decent scoring opportunities.
Hawkes Bay surfer Tyler Lawson made the most of the conditions and his knowledge of the break, the young surfer being part of the Raglan Surfing Academy for the past two years.
“I have been surfing out here during the week with the Academy but only on the full tide, this morning it was low tide and not really happening at all” said Lawson.
Lawson scored 13.25 for his total heat score for an easy victory in his first round heat progressing to the quarterfinals alongside Sid West (Great Barrier).
“I had a real slow start and was a bit unsure where I was and where to sit. There were waves, a few fun ones, but you just had to pick them out” said Lawson of his performance.
Patxi Scott – Arrieta (Sandy Bay) was another surfer that made easy work of his heat also scoring 13.25 out of a possible 20 points.
“I was lucky I got that one wave that went all the way through at the end” said Scott – Arrieta of his 7.0 point ride at the end of the heat.
He will now face a tough task in the quarterfinals where he will be up against new ratings leader Ryan Hawker (Piha), current number three ranked surfer Braedon Williams (WGM) and New Zealand Junior Squad member Jacob Kohn (Gis).
Other comprehensive heat winners in the Under 20 Men’s Division included American Sam Deeley (Florida), Todd Doyle (Mnt), Paul Moretti (Mimiwhangata) and Zen Wallis (Piha).
Not only does this year’s event boast a total prize pool of $12,500 but the winner of the Open Men’s Division will also receive return flights to Bali, and an invitation to compete in the Rip Curl Padang Cup Invitational event.
The Kiwi Surf Boost for Cash Airshow is back for 2011 rewarding one lucky free surfer with a cheque for $500. Watch New Zealand’s top innovative surfers take to the skies as they all attempt to land the best single aerial manoeuvre to take home the $500 cash. 2010 saw Raglan surfer Billy Stairmand walk away with $500 for his trademark backhand air reverse. The Kiwi Surf Boost For Cash will take place on Saturday 12th March.
Please see below for the results from day one of the Rip Curl Pro pres by Nature Valley – event five on the SOL Surf Series.
Open Men’s Round 1
Heat 1
Jacob Kohn (Gis), 7.3, 1, Joe Moretti (Mimiwhangata), 6.9, 2, Nat Hughes (Rag), 3.8, 3, Felix Dickson (Dun), N/S
Heat 2
Luke Cederman (Rag), 13.25, 1, Sean Peggs (Tairua), 9.75, 2, Paul Moretti (Mimiwhangata), 8.5, 3, Geoff Hutchison (Rag), 5.15, 4
Heat 3
Mike Banks (Rag), 13.25, 1, Todd Doyle (Mnt), 8.75, 2, Jeremy Grainger (Tara), 6.05, 3, Deane Hishon (Rag), 5.4, 4
Heat 4
Richard Christie (Mahia), 14.9, 1, Patxi Scott Arrieta (Sandy Bay), 11.6, 2, Sam Deeley (USA) , 8.1, 3, Tyler Anderson (Tara), 7.9, 4
Heat 5
Adam Grimson (Gis), 1, Matt Scorringe (Whmata), 2, Rick Lasch (Piha), N/S, Brent Rasby (Gis), N/S
Heat 6
Zen Wallis (Piha), 10, 1, Larry Fisher (Rag), 9.85, 2, Braedon Williams (Whmata), 8.5, 3, Ben Poulter (Rag), 6.1, 4
Heat 7
Mark Parthemore (Tara), 10.1, 1, Manu Scott Arrieta , 8.65, 2, Elliot Paerata Reid (Piha), 8.35, 3, Matt Hishon (Rag), 5.7, 4
Heat 8
Tim Thompson (Auck), 15.4, 1, Zennor Wernham (Rag), 12.75, 2, Tyler Lawson (H-Bay), 8.75, 3
Under 20 Men’s Division Round 1
Heat 1
Paul Moretti (Mimiwhangata), 9, 1, Tim Thompson (Auck), 8.1, 2, Tyler Anderson (Tara), 7, 3, Jules Craft (Gis), N/S
Heat 2
Todd Doyle (Mnt), 9.25, 1, Eli Macdonald (Waitara), 1.85, 2, Manu Scott Arrieta (Sandy Bay), 1.5, 3, Ben Wallis (Rag) , 0.8, 4
Heat 3
Zen Wallis (Piha), 9.55, 1, Mackenzie Christie (Tau), 7.25, 2, Nat Hughes (Rag), 5.55, 3, Elliot Paerata Reid (Piha), 5.4, 4
Heat 4
Tyler Lawson (H-Bay), 13.3, 1, Sid West (Gt Barrier), 13.2, 2, JC Susan (Mnt), 7.5, 3, Wiremu Ormsby (Rag) , 3.43, 4
Heat 5
Sam Deeley (USA) , 9.25, 1, Ryan Hawker (Piha), 7.6, 2, Joe Moretti (Mimiwhangata), 7.25, 3, Jordan Hart (Tara), 1.6, 4
Heat 6
Mark Parthemore (Tara), 6.05, 1, Jacob Kohn (Gis), 5.75, 2, Adam Grimson (Gis), 5.3, 3, Jacob Steens (Tau), 0, 4
Heat 7
Braedon Williams (Whmata), 9.3, 1, Corey Asplin (Ham), 6.25, 2, Tane Wallis (Piha), 6.2, 3, James Taylor (UK) , 4.4, 4
Heat 8
Patxi Scott Arrieta (Sandy Bay), 13.3, 1, Ben Poulter (Rag), 7.4, 2, Tyler Barry (Rag), 5.8, 3, Dillon Tarrant (Ham), 4.65, 4
Complete event write ups, results, surfer and industry ratings, images and audio interviews from the event can be viewed at Surfing New Zealand.
Information
For more information on the Rip Curl Pro presented by Nature Valley please contact Ben Kennings on 07 8250022 or 021 2278732 or email benkennings@surfingnz.co.nz. Alternatively, please contact Rip Curl Events Manager Leon Parkin on 021386473 or email lparkin@ripcurl.co.nz.
Imagery
Web clips and newsfeeds will be distributed free of charge from the event. Please contact Ben Kennings for further details.
High resolution images will be available to media upon request. Images will be distributed free of charge courtesy of Kiwi Surf Magazine.
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Sponsors
Generous support from Rip Curl, Nature Valley, SOL, Kiwi Surf, SURF2SURF.com, Power Balance, The Edge, Point Boardriders and Surfing New Zealand has made this event possible.
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Ends
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