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Maori Surfing Team Heading To Tahiti |
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Written by Ben Kennings
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Wednesday, 25 June 2008 |
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Batchelor Tipene - Image NZ Surfing Magazine
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The twelve-strong New Zealand Maori Surfing Team heads to Tahiti this Friday (27th of June) to contest the Coca Cola Oceania Cup. The team is the biggest New Zealand has ever sent to the event with the host nation Tahiti looking to increase the reach of the event to indigenous surfers around the Pacific. The six day event commences on Monday 30th June with eight nations expected participate.
The New Zealand team comprises a mix of young and old surfers, several of which are past National and Maori Titles holders. Team Manager Chris Malone (Gis) is confident that the team will be able to out perform their Pacific neighbours and retain their number one ranking they achieved in 2007.
“This years team is jam packed with experience” commented an amped up Malone “We are all looking forward to going over to Tahiti and winning the comp for our country. There is a good bunch of under 18 boys coming with us this year to so it will be good for them to feed off the likes of Motu Mataa (Tara) and the older team members and gain valuable experience on the international stage”.
Motu Mataa is a two time winner of the event with back to back titles in 1999 and 2000. Fellow team mate Chris Malone has also contested the event placing runner up in 1998. Morehu Roberts (Gis) and Batchelor Tipene (Tara) will both be attending the event for the first time.
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Peri Matenga - Image NZ Surfing Magazine
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Four under 18 boys will be making the trip to Tahiti with the team. Haami Martin (Rag) and Jay Paddock (Gis) have been joined by James Tume (Wgtn) and the youngest of the team Peri Matenga (Mnt). Martin was the winner of the final event of the Auahi Kore Maori Tri Series held at Ruapuke Beach on the 21st of June. His recent form suggests he will be able to foot it with the powerful surfers from the host nation Tahiti. Paddock, Tume and Matenga have all contested the SNZ Grommet Series through the start of the year and will want to transfer their national results to the Oceania Cup.
Sophia Moore (Muriwai) and Thandi Durham (Tara) make up the women’s component of the team. Moore has recently returned to Auckland after studying down south and competing at South Island events. Durham has competed on the Corona Crown Series all summer placing 8th overall.
Mangawhai Heads surfer Isaac Johnston is the sole longboard surfer in the team. Johnston is a regular competitor on the Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour and was runner up at the 2007 Auahi Kore Maori Surfing Titles.
The 2008 Maori Surfing Team is as follows:
Open Men
Batchelor Tipene (Taranaki)
Motu Mataa (Taranaki)
Morehu Roberts (Gisborne)
Chris Malone (Gisborne/Raglan) – Manager/Coach
Open Women
Sophia Moore (Muriwai Beach)
Thandi Durham (Taranaki)
Under 18 Boys
Haami Martin (Raglan)
Jay Paddock (Gisborne)
Peri Matenga (Mount Maunganui)
James Tume (Wellington)
Longboard
Isaac Johnston (Mangawhai Heads)
The Oceania Cup has been held since 1997 when it was first staged at Tavarua Island, Fiji and hosted by the Fijian Surfing Association. Since then the event has visited Tonga, Australia, Norfolk Island, Samoa and New Caledonia. The New Zealand Team have won the event on several occasions the most recent being in 2007. 2006 marked the only time a New Zealand team have not attended the event.
For further information regarding the New Zealand Maori Surfing Team, please contact Ben Kennings at Surfing New Zealand 07 8250018, 0212278732 or email benkennings@surfingnz.co.nz.
The tour would not be possible without the support of Auahi Kore, Quiksilver, Roxy and Surfing New Zealand.
Surfing New Zealand are proudly partnered by
Corona
Hyundai
SPARC
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Ends
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