Demanding conditions at Taranaki’s Puniho Road made for difficult times on day one of the Auahi Kore Aotearoa Maori Titles presented by Hyundai today (Saturday). The increasingly strong westerly wind made for an untidy 1.0m swell that had to be navigated by everyone and it was the top seeds that confirmed their status. It appeared that no matter what the conditions, they could find good scoring rides and progress through to the final day of action. The Raglan duo of defending champion Daniel Kereopa and 2005 champion Leon Santorik cruised through to the semifinals as did the Gisborne pairing of Richard Christie and Morehu Roberts.
The tide filled in throughout the day improving conditions somewhat and the Billabong Open Men’s Division quarterfinalists shone through the sub-par conditions with some exceptional surfing. Daniel Kereopa posted the highest heat score of the day – 16.5 out of a possible 20 while Leon Santorik posted the highest single wave score of the day – an excellent 9.0 out of 10.
Surfing in separate heats it was Kereopa that was up against Morehu Roberts (2004 Champion) and his powerful turns got him over the line ahead of the younger Roberts. Leon Santorik played the waiting game with his tactics paying off massively as he got the best formed wave of the day and executed two critical backhand turns tight in the pocket. Santorik moved through in first place again ahead of younger Richard Christie who has recently returned from a successful stint competing in Australia. Today Christie worked on ‘building his scoreline’ but could not match the quality of Santorik’s waves.
Local surfers Jamie Andrews and Jason Zimmerman showed that their intimate knowledge of the Puniho waves counted for something as they moved through to the final eight surfers in the men’s division. Andrews will face Santorik and Christie along with Wellington surfer Brandon Kingi in one semifinal while Zimmerman will face Kereopa and Roberts along with Mount Maunganui surfer Tim O’Connor who won his quarterfinal heat.
The Volcom Under 16 boys proved very popular with a bunch of young surfers attending the event. While it was the top seeds that won their heats there were some great performances from a bunch of the grommets. Young Elliot Paerata-Reid moved through his heat in second place as did Taylor Haskell who joined fellow Taranaki surfer Sean Parker in the semifinals. Ryan Elliot was another youngster to progress through to the semifinals. These surfers will now join a quartet of Gisborne surfers that includes Johnny Hicks, Buck Woods, Jay Paddock and Reno Marriot who are coincidentally all travelling together.
As with all Auahi Kore Maori Titles the older divisions are where many battle lines are drawn. While some surfers are past their optimal performance levels that does not mean that the competitive hunger does not burn from deep within. The emotions run high and while it is all fun, smiles and story telling on land, in the water is totally different.
Defending champion of the Bodyline Over 30s and Aotearoa Born and Bred Over 35s Phillip Willoughby had to settle for second place in his heat moving on to the semifinals in the Over 30s behind local surfer Michael Lewis. Lewis was joined by fellow Taranaki surfer Nick Rowe as a round one winner while Wayne Cooper took a win for Raglan. In the Seed Over 40 Men it was defending champion Jason Matthews (Te Atiawa) who moved through to the semifinals scoring an 11.0 hat total as did East Coast surfers Ronnie Mayor and Martyn Matenga.
Results from Day One of the Auahi Kore Aotearoa Maori Titles presented by Hyundai follow. Approximately seven hours of surfing is required to complete the event on Sunday and will be followed by a poroporoaki at the Owae Marae, 16 North Street, Waitara. Full results and media release will be available at the conclusion of the event.
Billabong Open Men Round 1
Heat 1Jason Zimmerman (Tara), 1, Ronnie Rolfe, 2, Motu Mataa (Tara), n/s, Marshall Reedy (Ngati Porou), n/sHeat 2Tim O'Connor (Waikato), 1, Jeremy Grainger (Nga Ruanui), 2, Jarrod Toomey (Rag), nsHeat 3Morehu Roberts (Ronowhakaata), 1, Batchelor Tipene (Tu Wharetoa), 2, Robert Reedy (Ngati Porou), 3, Shaun Coffey, 4Heat 4Daniel Kereopa (Tainui), 1, Cheyne Tipene (Tu Wharetoa), 2, Dion Ahern, 3Heat 5Brandon Kingi (Wgtn), 1, Leon Santorik (Ngati Tama/Toa), 2, Dobzyn Atkins (Ngati Wai), 3Heat 6Jamie Andrews (Nati Ruanui), 1, Bodhi Whitaker (Ngat Whakaue), 2, Thomas Speck (Tuhoe), 3, Reupene Dewes (Ngati Uepohatu), 4Heat 7Phil Willoughby (Rag), 1, Dylan Pidgeon (Ngati Whatua), 2, Harold Koia (Te Arawa), 3, Heat 8Richard Christie (Mahia), 1, Conan James (Te Atiawa), 2, Wayne Cooper (Ngai Tai), 3, Olly Coddington, 4
Billabong Open Men Quarterfinals
Heat 1Tim O'Connor (Waikato), 1, Jason Zimmerman (Tara), 2, Batchelor Tipene (Tu Wharetoa), 3, Cheyne Tipene (Tu Wharetoa), 4Heat 2Daniel Kereopa (Tainui), 1, Morehu Roberts (Ronowhakaata), 2, Jeremy Grainger (Nga Ruanui), 3, Ronnie Rolfe, 4Heat 3Jamie Andrews (Te Atiawa), 1, Brandon Kingi (Wgtn), 2, Conan James (Te Atiawa), 3, Dylan Pidgeon (Ngati Whatua), 4Heat 4Leon Santorik (Ngati Tama/Toa), 1, Richard Christie (Kahungunu), 2 Bodhi Whitaker (Ngati Whakaue), 3, Phil Willoughby (Nga Puhi), 4
Billabong Open Men Semifinals (To be surfed Sunday)
Heat 1Tim O'Connor (Waikato), 1, Jason Zimmerman (Tara), Daniel Kereopa (Tainui), 1, Morehu Roberts (Rongowhakaata)Heat 2Jamie Andrews (Te Atiawa), Brandon Kingi (Wgtn), Leon Santorik (Ngati Tama/Toa), Richard Christie (Kahungunu)
Roxy Open Women Final (To be surfed Sunday)
Jessica Santorik (Ngati Tama/Toa), Renee Lee (Te Arawa), Thandi Durham, Jess Terrill (Te Atiawa)
Bodyline Over 30 Men Round 1
Heat 1Wayne Cooper (Ngai Tai), 1, Jeff Piper (Nga Puhi), Jamarl Paerata, 3, 2, Motu Mataa (Ngati Toa), n/sHeat 2Michael Lewis, 1, Phillip Willoughby (Nga Puhi), 2, Robert Reedy (Ngati Porou), 3, Mark Strong (Te Atiawa), 4 Heat 3Nick Rowe, 1, Shaun Coffey (Ngaruahine), 2, Anaru Jans, 3, Reeve Hokokohe (Pakakohi/ Rauru), 4
Bodyline Over 30 Men Semifinals(To be surfed Sunday)
Heat 1Wayne Cooper (Ngai Tai), Phillip Willoughby (Nga Puhi), Shaun Coffey (Ngaruahine)Heat 2Michael Lewis, Jeff Piper (Nga Puhi), Nick Rowe
Aotearoa Born & Bread Over 35 Men Round 1
Heat 1James Atutahi (Nga Puhi), 1, Mark Strong (Te Atiawa), 2, Reupene Dewes (Ngati Uepohatu), 3, Reeve Hokopaura (Pakakohi/ Rauru), 4Heat 2Ronnie Mayor (Ngati Rangi), 1, Phillip Willoughby (Nga Puhi), 2, Douglas Te Ranga (Ngati Te Rangi), 3, Heat 3Jason Matthews (Te Atiawa), 1, Shaun Coffey (Ngaruahine), 2, Jeff Piper (Nga Puhi), 3, Anaru Jans, 4
Aotearoa Born & Bread Over 35 Men Semifinals (To be surfed Sunday)
Heat 1James Atutahi (Nga Puhi), Phillip Willoughby (Nga Puhi), Shaun Coffey (NgaruahineHeat 2Ronnie Mayor (Ngati Rangi) , Mark Strong (Te Atiawa), Jason Matthews (Te Atiawa)
Seed Over 40 Men Round 1
Heat 1Ronnie Mayor (Ngati Rangi), 1, Te Kauhoe Wano (Te Atiawa), 2, Nick Toa (Te Atiawa), 3Heat 2Jason Matthews (Te Atiawa), 1, Dave Haskell (Te Atiawa), 2, Douglas Te Ranga (Ngati Te Rangi), 3Heat 3Martin Matenga (Waikato), 1, Kelvin Louie (Nagti Porou), 2, Jay Whitaker (Taranaki), n/s
Seed Over 40 Men Semifinals (To be surfed Sunday)
Heat 1Ronnie Mayor (Ngati Rangi), Dave Haskell (Te Atiawa), Kelvin Louie (Nagti Porou)Heat 2Jason Matthews (Te Atiawa), Martin Matenga (Waikato), Te Kauhoe Wano (Te Atiawa)
Rip Curl Under 18 Boys Round 1
Heat 1Tim O'Connor (Waikato), 1, Johnny Hicks (Nagti Porou), 2, Zac Smith (Ngati Te Ata), n/s, Dylan Pidgeon (Ngati Whatua), n/sHeat 2Bodhi Whitaker (Ngati Whakaue), 1, Buck Woods (Ngati Teata/Tainui), 2, Jay Paddock (Te Rarawa), 3, Brooke Elliot (Te Arawa), 4
Rip Curl Under 18 Boys Finals (To be surfed Sunday)
Tim O'Connor (Waikato), Johnny Hicks (Nagti Porou), Bodhi Whitaker (Ngati Whakaue), Buck Woods (Ngati Teata/Tainui)
Volcom Under 16 Boys Round 1
Heat 1Sean Parker (Tara), 1, Reno Marriot (Ngati Porou), 2, Waretini Wano (Te Atiawa), 3, Taylor Louie (Ngati Porou), 4Heat 2Buck Woods (Ngati Teata/Tainui), 1, Ryan Elliot (Te Arawa), 2, Ricky Hokopaura (Pakakohi/ Rauru), 3Heat 3Johnny Hicks (Gis), 1, Taylor Haskell (Te Atiawa), 2, James Tume (Ngati Maru), 3, Peri Matenga (Waikato), 4Heat 4Jay Paddock (Te Rarawa), 1, Elliot Paerata-Reid, 2, Dylan Pidgeon (Ngati Whatua), 3, Tunui Wano (Te Atiawa), 4
Volcom Under 16 Boys Semifinals (To be surfed Sunday)
Heat 1Sean Parker (Tara), Reno Marriot (Ngati Porou), Buck Woods (Ngati Teata/Tainui), Ryan Elliot (Te Arawa)Heat 2
Johnny Hicks (Gis), Taylor Haskell (Te Atiawa), Jay Paddock (Te Rarawa), Elliot Paerata-Reid
Hyundai Longboard Round 1
Heat 1Daniel Kereopa (Rag), James Atutahi (Maketu), Reeve Hokopaura (Pakakohi/ Rauru)Heat 2Issac Johnson (Orewa), Jamie Andrews (Waitara), Reupene Dewes (Ngati Uepohatu), Te Kauhoe Wano (Te Atiawa)
Generous support from the following companies has made this event possible - Auahi Kore the principle supporter of Maori surfing as well Hyundai the associate sponsor for the event. Division sponsorship has been provided by Bodyline, Roxy, Billabong, Rip Curl and Volcom, Seed and Aotearoa Born and Bred.
For further information on the 2007 Auahi Kore Aotearoa Maori Titles held in association with Hyundai please contact Surfing New Zealand’s Ben Kennings on 021 2278732 or email ben.kennings@surfingnz.co.nz. Alternatively contact Surfing New Zealand Maori Coordinator Steve Ria on 021 2278731.
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