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Lasch dominates the 2012 Polar Bear |
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Written by Jason Ruddell
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Wednesday, 08 August 2012 |
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| Rick Lasch - Image Jason Ruddell |
Contestants were greeted with dismal conditions of 1ft surf with onshore winds on Saturday at the 31st Annual Schnappa Rock Polar Bear Classic at Sandy Bay but with contestable waves coming through the comp machine kicked into gear and the surfers in the water made the most of what huey offered up.
With a pulse of swell overnight and a favorable wind change to a light
westerly, Sandy Bay was serving up glassy 2-3ft peelers for competitors in the
final rounds. In the premier open division Auckland's Rick Lasch overcame
classy opposition to win the cash.
Lasch outpointed national longboard champion Tom Kibblewhite and local
favourite Paxti Scott-Arrieta in an action-packed open final to win the $1000
cheque and coveted trophy with a wave in the final 30 seconds of the heat.
Scott-Arieta's younger brother Manu picked up two titles after outpointing his
brother in the U-18 final and he also won the U-16 title over Whangarei's Zane
HIcks.
Lasch was also a winner in the over 40’s division surfing a commanding heat to
take out the over 40’s title ahead of John Gisby of Gisborne.
Mischa Davis was the dominant surfer in the women’s division finding the bigger
waves of the heat and linking fast powerful turns together to take the heat
win. Young Claudia Fraser from Piha punched above her weight for a respectable
finish in 2nd place. The pint sized West Coaster was able to find waves with
good scoring potential and make the most of her opportunities.
In the longboard final NZ's top longboarders Matt Cockayne and Thomas
Kibblewhite went head to head trading waves and scores. Cockayne a previous NZ
longboard rep was able to make the most of his scoring opportunities to come
away with the win in a close fought battle. Sandy Bay local Sean Carter put in
a respectable performance making the final but couldn't quite find the waves
that offered up the scoring opportunities to overtake Cockayne and Kibblewhite.
Results:
Open: 1 Rick
Lasch (Auckland), 2 Tom Kibblewhite (Orewa), 3 Patxi Scott-Arrieta ( Tutukaka
coast), 4 Matt Cockayne (Mangawhai).
Women: 1
Mischa Davis (Auckland), 2 Claudia Frazer (Piha), 3) Nicola Colson- Koster
(Auckland), 4 Shelly Jones (Orewa).
Under 18: 1 Manu
Scott Arrieta (Tutukaka coast), 2 Patxi Scott Arrieta (Tutukaka Coast)
Under 16: 1
Manu Scott Arrieta, 2 Zane Hicks (Whangarei)
Over 40s: 1
Rick Lasch (Auckland) 2 John Gisby (Gisborne)
Over 50s: 1
John Gisby, 2 Richard Waitzer
Over 60s: 1
Ken Nicholson (Takapuna), 2 Mal Pullman (Sandy Bay)
Longboard: 1
Matt Cockayne (Mangawhai), 2 Tom Kibblewhite (Orewa)
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| Patxi Scott - Arrieta - Image Jason Ruddell |
Thomas Kibblewhite - Image Jason Ruddell |
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| Mischa Davis - Image Jason Ruddell |
Joe Palmer - Image Jason Ruddell |
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