Matt Hewitt - Image ASP Australasia/Robertson

Matt Hewitt was part of surfing history this week competing in the first ever ASP event held in China.

Hewitt was the sole Kiwi competing at the event and made his way over there last week.  To his horror there was no Facebook or Twitter in China but he somehow managed to get some updates out nonetheless.  Perhaps thge lack of internet time was good for Hewitt after he placed 17th at the event.

Held in clean 3ft lefthand point break waves, Hewitt slayed his first round heat posting 16.33 points to win.  His second round heat was a little more difficualt coming up against Christobal De Col (Per) and Chris Friend (Aus) who dominated the heat.  Hewitt made a late charge but fell on a couple of critical turns at the end of his waves finishing up requiring 8.06 to progress.

The result is a good start for Hewitt who begins his ASP World Tour campaign this year aftering jumping up from the junior division.

He will now come back to New Zealand to compete at the Hyundai Naitonal Surf Champs and try and juggle that event with the Billabong Pro Junior in Queensland where he has landed a trials spot alongside Buck Woods.