Jay Quinn - Image PhotoCPL

New Zealand’s top surfers mastered massive 2.0m – 3.0m waves at Piha Beach today (Friday 18^th January), leading up to the final day of the 2013 Hyundai National Surfing Championships.

After waiting for five days to get back in the water, the surfers in the Open Men’s Division took the West Coast break apart with explosive surfing despite the the sometimes maxing out line up and continued westerly winds. 

Gisborne’s Jay Quinn led the charge posting a 14.83 point heat total to win his quarterfinal match up.  The ex-two time defending champion (2008, 2010) got off to a slow start in his 25 minute heat before riding two good waves to jump into the lead.  In the tightest heat of the round, Quinn faced off against defending event champion Billy Stairmand (Rag) and 2009 National Champion Matt Hewitt (Mnt) with Stairmand following Quinn through to the semifinals in second place scoring 14.17.

“I opted to sit way out the back at the start of the heat, it was a bit wild, but I got one avalanche from out the back through to the inside, but I did nothing on it” said Quinn of his slow start.  “Once I got to the inside I got two quick waves and ended up winning.”

Four time national champion Maz Quinn (Gis) continued to surf his way through the field progressing through to the semifinals seemingly unnoticed despite equalling the highest scores of the round.  Quinn scored 14.40 to win his heat alongside Sean Kettle (Tara) who placed second in the heat.  Kettle is the youngest competitor left in the event.

Taranaki surfer Keone Campbell was another surfer leaving his run late before winning his heat.  After sitting in fourth place for much of his heat, Campbell scored a seven point ride before doing a lap around the inside of the break and out the channel before riding another wave on the final buzzer to score a 14.8 point total.

“I didn’t get a wave for ten minutes at the start of the heat” said Campbell.  “Then I got one wave that peeled and it allowed me to do two turns.  After that I went ‘around the block’ and got another quick one with five minutes to go.  I only caught two waves in the heat” he added.

Campbell hasn’t made a National Championship final so his next match up, to be contested on Saturday morning, will be a big heat.  “I will try and do the same as today and make my waves count.  With conditions like they are, it is anyone’s game and that may work in my favour given the guys I am up against.”

Campbell referred to his pending heat against Jay Quinn, Billy Stairmand and Sean Peggs (Tairua).

Quinn was equally indecisive with his strategy for tomorrow.  “I probably won’t start out the back next time around, depending on the tide when we are surfing I guess”. 

Quinn was also quiet on a possible third title.  “I got to the semis last year and lost so I need to get the job done in semis first and then look at that third title if I get there.”

The second semifinal will see Maz Quinn face off against Sean Kettle, Chris Malone (Gis) and Leon Santorik (Rag).

The finalists for the Open Women’s Division were found in the morning with defending champion Thandi Durham – Tipene (Tara) having an early scare before coming back strong to win the first semifinal.  Durham – Tipene posted a 13.0 point heat total to move through with Mischa Davis (Piha) in second place.  Likewise in the second semifinal it was Ella Williams (WGM) that got a slow start before nailing one end section with a big turn to post a 8.33 point ride and a 10.0 point heat total.  Williams progressed through to the final alongside Alexis Poulter (Rag).

Two finals were also contested at the end of the day with champions crowned in the Stand Up Paddleboard Division and also the Kneeboard Division.

Daniel Kereopa (Rag) regained the Stand Up Paddleboard title with a dominant performance notcing up a 15.8 point heat total to beat Armie Armstrong (Rag) who finished runner up, defending champion Shayne Baxter (Chch) in third and Karl Arsene (WGM) in fourth.

In the Kneeboard Division it was Craig Hooper (Mnt) who claimed his maiden victory scoring 8.93 in the final.  Hooper has been contesting the division for over a decade and was ecstatic to finally claim a title.  Hooper defeated Kamen Geiseler (Gis), Makeno Skelton (Tara) and Tracey Skelton (Tara) who finished second through fourth respectively.

The surf is expected to decrease overnight and throughout the final day of the event on Saturday 19^th January.  Winds are also expected to the lightest of the entire seven day event.

Ella Williams - Image PhotoCPL	Keone Campbell - PhotoCPL
Maz Quinn - PhotoCPL	Billy Stairmand - PhotoCPL

See below for results from day six of the Hyundai National Surfing Championships held at Piha Beach, Auckland today (Friday 18^th January).

Maz Quinn (Gis), 14.4, 1, Sean Kettle (Tara), 11.63, 2, Dune Kennings (Whmata), 9.87, 3, Bachelor Tipene (Tara), 5.6, 4
Heat 4
Chris Malone (Gis), 13.43, 1, Leon Santorik (Rag), 9.17, 2, Jarred Hancox (Tara), 7.87, 3, Zen Wallis (Piha), 7.67, 4

Open Women’s Semifinals
Heat 1

Thandi Tipene (Tara), 12.5, 1, Mischa Davis (Auck), 6.1, 2, Dayna Story (Gis), 4.27, 3, Bianca Sansom (Auck), 1.67, 4
Heat 2
Ella Williams (Whmata), 10.2, 1, Alexis Poulter (Rag), 7.5, 2, Gabriella Sansom (Auck), 3.83, 3, Grace Spiers (Whmata), 2.5, 4

Under 18 Boys Semifinals
Heat 1
Waretini Wano (Piha), 10.3, 1, Sean Kettle (Tara), 9.27, 2, Mackenzie Christie (Tau), 7.7, 3, Kayden Mayes (Mnt), 6.77, 4
Heat 2
Elliot Paerata Reid (Piha), 15.3, 1, Jules Craft (Gis), 9.93, 2, Josh Taylor (Tau), 9.67, 3, Dune Kennings (Whmata), 8.57, 4

Over 28 Mens Semifinals
Heat 1
Jarred Hancox (Tara), 13.8, 1, Jamie Andrews (Tara), 13.1, 2, Andrew Robinson (Auck), 7.33, 3
Heat 2
Bachelor Tipene (Tara), 13, 1, Kayne Duncan (Port Waikato), 5.27, 2, Jason Ruddell (Whgrei), 1.9, 3

Over 35 Men’s Semifinals
Heat 1
Maz Quinn (Gis), 11.4, 1, Geoff Hutchison (Rag), 9.67, 2, Shaun Coffey (Auck), 8.5, 3, Cale Tolley (Mnt), 5.5, 4
Heat 2
Ben Kennings (Whmata), 10.7, 1, Marc Moore (Rag), 10.2, 2, Morgan Cronin (Auck), 5.43, 3, Stu Millar (Piha), 3.63, 4

Over 40 Men’s Semifinals
Heat 1
Shaun Coffey (Tara), 6.83, 1, Glenn Marsom (Auck), 3.33, 2, Geoff Hutchison (Rag), 2.9, 3, Deane Hishon (Rag), 2.3, 4
Heat 2
Mike Christiansen (ChCh), 8.67, 1, Rick Lasch (Auck), 7.0, 2, David Farr (Tara), 4.37, 3, Scott Braithwaite (Whtane), 0, 4

Stand Up Paddleboard Final
Daniel Kereopa (Rag), 15.8, 1, Armie Armstrong (Rag), 8.4, 2, Shayne Baxter (ChCh), 6.53, 3, Karlos Aarsen (Whmata), 3.77, 4

Kneeboard Semifinals
Heat 1
Makeno Skelton (Tara), 7.77, 1, Kamen Geiseler (Gis), 6.13, 2, Steve Croton (Tara), 1, 3
Heat 2
Tracey Skelton (Tara), 10, 1, Craig Hooper (Mnt), 7.1, 2, Tane Wallis (Piha), 6.73, 3, Murray Weir (Tara), 2.54, 4

Kneeboard Final
Craig Hooper (Mnt), 8.93, 1, Kamen Geiseler (Gis), 4.97, 2, Makeno Skelton (Tara), 4.23, 3, Tracey Skelton (Tara), 2.4, 4

A complete list of all National Champions are located on the Surfing New Zealand website under History.

Further Information
For further information on the 2013 Hyundai National Championships please contact Surfing New Zealand’s Ben Kennings on 021 2278732 or email benkennings@surfingnz.co.nz.

Imagery
Web clips and newsfeeds will be distributed free of charge from the event.  Please contact Ben Kennings for further details.

High resolution action images of the surfing will be available to media free of charge upon request.

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