Leon Santorik - Image PhotoCPL

The country’s top surfers opened the seven-day 2013 Hyundai National Championships today (Sunday 13^th January) as they surfed their way through to the final sixteen surfers of the Open Men’s Division.

The premier division made the most of the decreasing 1.5m swell at Piha Beach, Auckland with high tide conditions remaining good all day with light sea breezes.

In front of busy summers crowd on the beach, the top seeds made their move through the field with the Quinn brothers of Gisborne, Alex Dive (Mnt) and Leon Santorik (Rag) dominating their match ups.

Santorik top scored in the Round of 32 posting 15.0 out of a possible 20 points to eliminate one of the pre-event favourites Richard Christie (Gis).  Santorik opened his 20 minute heat with a 7.0 point ride for three big turns on his forehand.

“That is the best heat I have had in a long time, it just felt like everything was going good for me” said a content Santorik.  “After I got that first seven point ride I paddled out and got another good wave then another, the waves followed me where ever I was, I like it when that happens” added Santorik.

Santorik progressed alongside Dune Kennings (WGM) who scored 12.0 points narrowly nudging Christie out of the event after scoring 11.4 points.

Alex Dive (Mnt) was the first surfer to progress through to the quarterfinals after winning his heat ahead of fellow Mount Maunganui surfer Matt Hewitt.  Dive posted a 14.70 point heat total and looked strong on his forehand to get one up on Hewitt.  Hewitt placed second in the heat and remains in the hunt for an elusive second national title after winning his first here at Piha in 2009.

Four-time National Champion Maz Quinn went about his work quietly to notch up an easy heat win scoring 13.5 points.  His patented forehand hack suited the right handers in the middle of the beach at the south end of Piha.  Quinn has gone six years since his last title in the Open Men’s Division and with the spotlight firmly on the young up and coming surfers, Quinn could well be one to watch at the end of the week when the swell is expected to build significantly for the end of the event.

Jay Quinn, who resides in Australia, returned to New Zealand on Saturday and surfed through two heats today winning his second heat scoring 12.0 points.

Other standouts included defending champion Billy Stairmand (Rag).  Young Taranaki surfer Sean Kettle posted the highest single wave score of the day – 9.17 out of a possible ten points for one big turn and an air reverse late in his heat.  Kettle progressed alongside Jarred Hancox (Tara) in second place.

Late in the day the Under 18 Boys Division hit the water as the tide went out.  Female Whangamata surfer Ella Williams caused a stir surfing an amazing heat to progress through to the quarterfinals.  Williams got one long lefthander completing three big turns to score 8.33 points.  Williams progressed alongside local Piha surfer Waretini Wano in second place.  Other heat winners included Australian based Korbin Hutchings, Jules Craft (Gis), McKenzie Christie (Mnt) and Sean Kettle (Tara).

The surf is expected to decrease further for day two (Monday 14^th January).  Winds will swing to the northwest and increase throughout the day. Competition will commence at 8:00am on Sunday 13^th January.

Matt Hewitt - Image PhotoCPL	Jay Quinn - Image PhotoCPL
Maz Quinn - Image PhotoCPL	Sean Peggs - Image PhotoCPL

See below for results from day one of the Hyundai National Surfing Championships held at Piha Beach, Auckland today.

Open Men Rnd of 50
Heat 1
Sam Douglas Brown, 5.23, 1, Ella Williams (Whmata), 3.4, 2, Luke Cederman (Rag), 0, N/S

Open Men’s Round of 48
Heat 1
Marc Moore (Rag), 11.83, 1, Jason Ruddell (Whngrei), 7.77, 2, Corey Asplin (Rag), 6.43, 3, Deane Hishon (Rag), 6.3, 4
Heat 2
Ben Poulter (Rag), 14, 1, Simon Deken (Tara), 10.2, 2, Jamie Andrews (Tara), 8.17, 3, McKenzie Bowden, 8.1, 4
Heat 3
JC Susan (Mnt), 11.6, 1, Justin Souter (Mnt), 8.13, 2, Kayne Duncan (Port Waikato), 4.27, 3, Jules Craft (Gis), 3.4, 4
Heat 4
Billy Stairmand (Rag), 12.83, 1, Jay Quinn (Gis), 11.23, 2, Rick Lasch  (Piha), 7.6, 3, Ella Williams (Whmata), 5.03, 4
Heat 5
Levi Stewart (Waihi Bch), 8.13, 1, Sean Kettle (Tara), 8.1, 2, Sam Douglas Brown, 6.6, 3, Josh Kettle (Tara), 5.73, 4
Heat 6
Johnny Hicks (Gis), 9.93, 1, Josh Taylor (Mnt), 9.6, 2, Jeremy Grainger (Tara), 5.73, 3, Louie Wray-Murane (Muri), N/S
Heat 7
Chris Malone (Gis) TP, 11.17, 1, Richard Christie (Mahia), 10.1, 2, Buck Woods (Gis), 8.5, 3, Todd Doyle (Mnt), 6.03, 4
Heat 8
Waretini Wano (Piha), 9.17, 1, Cale Tolley (Mnt), 8.83, 2, Patxi Scott Arrieta (Sandy Bay), 5.13, 3, Mackenzie Christie, 4.87, 4

Open Men’s Round of 32
Heat 1
Alex Dive (Mnt), 14.7, 1, Matt-Lewis Hewitt (Mnt), 11.47, 2, Simon Deken (Tara), 7.93, 3, Marc Moore (Rag), 7.13, 4
Heat 2
Ben Poulter (Rag), 8.8, 1, Ben Kennings (Whmata), 7.63, 2, Joe Moretti (Mimiwhangata), 6.7, 3, Jason Ruddell (Whngrei), 4.73, 4
Heat 3
Jay Quinn (Gis), 12, 1, Keone Campbell (Tara), 10.33, 2, JC Susan (Mnt), 10.13, 3, Elliot Paerata Reid (Piha), 9.63, 4
Heat 4
Billy Stairmand (Rag), 13.43, 1, Sean Peggs (Tairua), 12.37, 2, Matt Scorringe (Whmata), 11.17, 3, Justin Souter (Mnt), 5.87, 4
Heat 5
Maz Quinn (Gis), 13.5, 1, Zen Wallis (Piha), 8.93, 2, Levi Stewart (Waihi Bch), 6.43, 3, Josh Taylor (Mnt), 4.57, 4
Heat 6
Sean Kettle (Tara), 12.7, 1, Jarred Hancox (Tara), 12.07, 2, Tane Wallis (Piha), 11.5, 3, Johnny Hicks (Gis), 9.07, 4
Heat 7
Chris Malone (Gis), 11.5, 1, Bachelor Tipene (Tara), 8.13, 2, Luke Hughes (Rag), 8.1, 3, Cale Tolley (Mnt), 7.73, 4
Heat 8
Leon Santorik (Rag), 15, 1, Dune Kennings (Whmata), 12, 2, Richard Christie (Mahia), 11.4, 3, Waretini Wano (Piha), 7.1, 4


Under 18 Boyus Round of 32
Heat 1
Mackenzie Christie (Tau), 12.4, 1, Manu Scott Arrieta (Sandy Bay), 10.6, 2, Taylor Hutchison (Rag), 7.6, 3, Riccardo Lucibella (Tara), 6.13, 4
Heat 2
Ella Williams (Whmata), 14.2, 1, Waretini Wano (Piha), 10.2, 2, Harrison Whiteside (ChCh), 9.3, 3, Max Cooken (ChCh), 7.2, 4
Heat 3
Korbin Hutchings (Gis), 15, 1, McKenzie Bowden (Whmata), 7.6, 2, Corey Asplin (Ham), 7, 3, Zane Hicks (Whgrei), 3.77, 4
Heat 4
Sean Kettle (Tara), 12.2, 1, Kayden Mayes (Mnt), 11.3, 2, Jordan Griffin (Mnt), 8.3, 3
Heat 5
Dune Kennings (Whmata), 13.6, 1, Luca Cressy (Arataki), 7.53, 2, Joe Palmer (Northland), 5.3, 3
Heat 6
Jules Craft (Gis), 12.4, 1, Levi Stewart (Waihi Bch), 10.4, 2, Tom Mason (Auck), 8.1, 3, Isaac Kettle (Tara), 6.6, 4
Heat 7
Elliot Paerata Reid (Piha), 13.8, 1, Matt Mcgregor (Sandy Bay), 9.67, 2, Adam Clegg (Tara), 4.97, 3, Daniel Tingey (Tau), 4.63, 4
Heat 8
Josh Taylor (Tau), 11.8, 1, Max Marshall (ChCh), 8.3, 2, Sam Douglas Brown (Aus), 6.13, 3, Wade Kindred (Auck), 5.97, 4

A complete lists 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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The Surfing New Zealand event hotline is 0211134506.  This will be updated daily at approximately 7am with venue, divisions contested and conditions.

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