Surfing NZ - Moretti Brothers dominate Event One of the 2010 Northland Scholastic Surfing Series

The first event of the Northland Scholastics Surfing Series kicked off in fun 1.0m waves at Mukerau Beach in Ahipara on Sunday 18th April. Perfect offshore conditions and clean waves breaking around the point offered the perfect setting for the 30 strong field of competitors and there was some great surfing action through out the day.

The Bodyboard final was a close affair, with all three surfers getting some long peeling rides. Regan Williams (Kamo High School) picked off the best waves winning the Bodyboard division.

There was one soul female surfer in the event - young Ellen Colland ( Kaitaia College ) . Ellen surfed through the Under 14 Boys division and showed she is a solid competitor. The goofy footer showed her local knowledge and picked off some of the best waves in her heats.

In the Under 14 division Ryan Renall ( Rodney College) showed some good skills picking off some good set waves and surfing with style. However it was Joe Palmer ( Kerikeri High School) who dominated the long left hand point waves on offer mixing up powerful turns with good re-entries to take out the Under 14 Boys division in the finals.

The hotly contested Under 16 division saw Mimiwhangata's Paul Moretti go head to head with Patxi Scott-Arietta ( Kamo High School). Both Moretti and Scott-Arietta are familiar faces on the NZ Junior Circuit and showed some solid skils in thier respective heats. In the finals conditons were ideal for the two goofy footers to show case thier tbackhand surfing. Patxi Scott-Arietta scored some long high scoring rides, but it was Paul Moretti (Mimiwhangata) who took out the final.

The Under 18 Boys division was another eye opener for the crew watching on. As the finalists hit the water the tide had backed off and the points seemed to pulse .Louie Smith (Rodney College) , fresh back from a year at the Raglan Surfing Academy, started strong in the final linking a couple of the bigger waves in the heat all the way to the beach.But it was Joe Moretti (Mimiwhangata) who nailed a couple of massive turns and stylish cut backs to take out the final.

Thanks must go to the Far North Board Riders for supporting the event and the Ahipara community for allowing us to run the event on their prized coastline. Also a massive thanks to High Voltage Surf Shop for their kind donation of prizes and Sport Northland for supporting surfing in Northland. And finally a big thanks to all the competitors and parents who made it a fantastic day of surfing.


Paul Moretti - Image Wayne Cribb	Joe Moretti - Image Wayne Cribb

Please see below for information about the next event in the 2010 Northland Scholastic Surfing Series:

2010 Northland Scholastic Surfing Series

Event One - Ahipara - Sunday 18th April 2010
Event Two - Sandy Bay - Sunday 23rd May 2010
Event Three - Mangawhai Heads - Sunday 20th June 2010

For more event information including entry forms email northlandscholastics@gmail.com or contact either Kirstie Thomsen 0275 550013 or Tony Baker 021 907066 . Images will be available on request.