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Maori Titles To Embrace The Waves Of Taranaki |
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Written by Chris
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Friday, 17 October 2008 |
 The 2008 Auahi Kore Aotearoa Maori Surfing Titles held in association with Hyundai. This year will be the 16th time the event has been held and the event heads back to its birth place of Taranaki where it was first hosted by Waitara Bar Boardriders Club in 1993
WHEN: Saturday and Sunday 25th – 26th October 2008
WHERE: Hosted by Waitara Bar Boardriders Club the event will go mobile along the Taranaki Coastline to capitalise on the best possible waves the region has to offer.
WHO: Approximately one hundred of the best Maori surfers from around the country contesting nine divisions catering for surfers from the age of ten through to fifty. The surfers will be out to make the most of the event by catching up with whanau and friends as much as contesting the nine titles that are up for grabs. Key names to look out for will be Richard Christie, Morehu Roberts, Daniel Kereopa, Jessica Santorik, Leon Santorik, Motu Mataa, and Tim O’Connor. Juniors to watch out for include Haami Martin, James Tume, Johnny Hicks, Buck Woods.
THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW: Richard Christie (Kahungunu) will be the top ranked surfer and defending champion at the event. In 2005 Christie was the youngest ever surfer to win the New Zealand National Championships. Since then his career has gone from strength to strength and he is now regarded as one of the best up and coming junior surfers in the world. Christie is rated 13th on the Australasian Pro Junior Tour.
2004 Open Men’s winner Morehu Roberts is keen to get his hands on another Open Men’s title. “We are good mates and travelling to the event together but when we are in the water competing its all on” commented Morehu in regards to good mate Richard Christie.
National representatives Johnny Hicks and Buck Woods are the hot favourites to battle it out for the Junior Title. However in their path they have the 2008 Maori Team members Jay Paddock, Haami Martin, James Tume and Peri Matanga who have all been surfing exceptionally well and are eager to get a finals berth and potential title. Haami Martin, a first time competitor at the event, made the finals at this years Oceania Cup held in Tahiti. Martin placed a creditable fourth place in the final and will be one to look out for this weekend.
The Aotearoa Maori Titles doubles as a selection event for the New Zealand Maori Team to compete at the 2009 Oceania Cup. The 2009 Oceania Cup is being held back in Tahiti next June. The winners of the Open Men’s, Open Women and Junior Men’s divisions receive automatic selection for the New Zealand Maori Team. The New Zealand team have won the Oceania Cup five times including 2006 when the event was held in New Caledonia.
Jason Matthews made his comeback to competition at this event in 2006 and won the Over 40s division as well as making two other finals. This year as part of the Waitara Bar Boardriders Club he has taken on the task of hosting the event. Alongside Matthews will be Chris Malone, former double Maori title winner and ex-National Champion, who will be working with Matthews and the Waitara Bar Boardriders Club directing this years event as the Maori Projects Manager for Surfing New Zealand. “Its great to be back and helping with the event, putting back in what surfing has given me over the years” commented Malone.
Jessica Santorik is the defending champion in the Open Women’s Division and is odds-on favourite to win a fourth successive title this year. Santorik is presently in Portugal competing for New Zealand at the 2008 ISA World Surfing Games.
HISTORY: Initiated by the Waitara Bar Boardriders Club in 1992 the first event took place in 1993. The Maori Titles was initiated to acknowledge the sporting excellence and commitment that Maori Surfers have achieved at club, national and international level. The Maori Titles embraces kaitiakitanga and is focused toward strengthening whanaungatanga, manaakitanga and kotahitanga. The Maori Titles is a spiritual awareness for some, a learning curve for others but most importantly it’s a time when family and friends can come together through their tribal links to experience kotahitanga (being as one). The Auahi Kore Aotearoa Maori Surfing Titles held in association with Hyundai are held annually and the event has become one of the premier events of the Surfing New Zealand events calendar. Labour Weekend is generally the time of the year that the titles are held.
PREVIOUS WINNERS:
Open Men’s
2004 Morehu Roberts (Rongowhakata)
2005 Leon Santorik (Ngati Tama/Toa)
2006 Daniel Kereopa (Tainui)
2007 Richard Christie (Kahungunu)
Under 18 Men’s
2004 Morehu Roberts (Rongowhakata)
2005 Tim O’Connor (Waikato)
2006 Conan James (Te Atiawa)
2007 Bodhi Whitaker (Ngati Whakaue)
Under 16 Men’s
2004 Richard Christie (Kahungunu)
2005 Bodhi Whitaker (Ngati Whakaue)
2006 Johnny Hicks (Ngati Porou)
2007 Johnny Hicks (Ngati Porou)
Open Women’s
2004 Airini Mason (Rongomaiwahine)
2005 Jessica Santorik (Ngati Tama/Toa)
2006 Jessica Santorik (Ngati Tama/Toa)
2007 Jessica Santorik (Ngati Tama/Toa)
Longboard
2004 Daniel Procter (Ngati Uepohatu)
2005 Daniel Kereopa (Tainui)
2006 Jamie Andrews (Ngati Ruanui)
2007 Daniel Kereopa (Tainui)
Over 30 Men’s
2004 Shaun Coffey (Nga Ruahine)
2005 James Fowell (Ngati Kanohi)
2006 Phillip Willoughby (Nga Puhi)
2007 Wayne Cooper (Nga Tai)
Over 35 Men’s
2004 James Atutahi (Nga Puhi)
2005 Phillip Willoughby (Nga Puhi)
2006 Phillip Willoughby (Nga Puhi)
2007 Shaun Coffey (Ngaruahine)
Over 40 Men’s
2004 Doug Te Ranga (Ngati Te Rangi)
2005 Te Kauhoe Wano (Te Atiawa)
2006 Jason Matthews (Te Atiawa)
2007 Kelvin Louie (Nagti Porou)
FORMAT: Standard event format with four man heats and 50% progression in all eight divisions. The finals in all divisions will be staged on Sunday the 26th of October.
DIVISIONS:
Billabong Open Men’s
Rip Curl Under 18 Men’s
Rapu Under 16 Men’s
Quiksilver Under 12 Men’s
Roxy Open Women’s
Hyundai Longboard
Motzstar Over 30 Men’s
Aotearoa Born and Breed Over 35 Men’s
Seed Over 40 Men’s
STATUS: The 2008 Auahi Kore Aotearoa Maori Surfing Titles held in association with Hyundai is a sanctioned Surfing New Zealand event.
REGISTRATION: The Powhiri is being held at 5.30pm on Friday 24th October at Owae Marae, 16 North Street, Waitara.
SPONSORS: 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 Rapu, Roxy, Quiksilver, Billabong, Rip Curl, Motzstar, Seed and Aotearoa Born and Bred.
CONTACTS: For further information on the 2008 Auahi Kore Aotearoa Maori Titles held in association with Hyundai please contact Surfing New Zealand’s Chris Malone on 021 984 937 or email chrismalone@surfingnz.co.nz . Alternatively contact Surfing New Zealand Maori Coordinator Steve Ria on 021 2278731 or email steve.ria@surfingnz.co.nz. S
urfing New Zealand are proudly partnered by
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Ends
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