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New Zealand Surfing Team Named |
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Written by Ben Kennings
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Friday, 20 June 2008 |
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Maz Quinn - Image NZ Surfing Magazine
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The New Zealand Surfing Team was announced today with ten of the nations top surfers set to compete at the 2008 ISA World Surfing Games to be held at Costa De Caparica. The prestigious biennial event known as the Olympics of surfing takes place from the 10th – 19th of October.
The team has been strengthened by the return of Maz Quinn (Gis) who for the past decade has focussed on the ASP World Tours. Quinn is New Zealand’s most celebrated surfer and only Kiwi to contest the elite World Tour (2002). This year competing back in New Zealand Quinn dominated his opponents winning the Corona Crown Series which ended in March.
Quinn has since decided to stand back from the ASP World Qualifying Series and spend more time surfing in New Zealand as well as travelling to world class breaks around the world. His inclusion in the team could well see him challenge for an ISA world title if he finds his rhythm at the event as well as help the New Zealand team to boost their current ranking of 12th they achieved in 2006.
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Leon Santorik - Image NZ Surfing Magazine
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Quinn is joined by three Raglan based surfers in the open men’s division. Luke Cederman, Leon Santorik and Zennor Wernham surf together on a regular basis and their competition form over the recent summer reinforced their inclusion in the team. Cederman and Wernham were both team mates in 2006 when the World Surfing Games were held at Huntington Beach, USA. Cederman placed 33rd at the event with Wernham finishing in 41st. Both surfers will want to improve on this result and current form would suggest this will not be an issue.
Wernham has represented New Zealand at the past three World Surfing Games (2002, 2004 and 2006). Leon Santorik also represented New Zealand when the event was held in Ecuador in 2004 where he placed 19th.
Leon Santorik is joined by his younger sister Jessica Santorik in the women’s division. This will be the first time Jessica has attended the World Surfing Games however she was a member of the New Zealand Junior Surfing Team for several years through until 2005. Jessica placed runner up on the Corona Crown Series for 2007/08. Jessica is joined by Christchurch surfer Daisy Thomas. Thomas will represent New Zealand for the first time and was selected after some strong form over summer which had her leading the Corona Crown Series early in the piece.
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Daryn Mcbride - Image Slide Magazine
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Daryn Mcbride (Mnt) won the 2008 Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour and has been in excellent form all year making his selection ‘path of the course’. The Mount Maunganui surfer has been a strong longboarding proponent for a number of years and he oozes style that sees him rewarded with big scores when competing. Mcbride has not competed at the World Surfing Games yet but has surfed in two Oxbow World Championships back in the late 90s when they were held in Hawaii and Australia.
Gisborne’s Jarad Ferris and Blaketown’s Andrew Lowe will represent the team in the men’s bodyboard division. Lowe will make it back to back representation after he placed 29th at the World Surfing Games held at Huntington Beach in 2006. Lowe is one of two South Island surfers to make the team. The female bodyboarder is Manukau’s Mihi Wells. Wells has been selected to represent New Zealand for the past two events and will slot into the event with ease. Wells has indicated that this may be her last shot at a world title as she looks to move on from competitive surfing.
The 2008 New Zealand Surfing Team is as follows:
Open Men
Maz Quinn (Gis)
Leon Santorik (Raglan)
Luke Cederman (Raglan)
Zennor Wernham (Raglan)
Open Women
Jessica Santorik (Raglan)
Daisy Thomas (Christchurch)
Men’s Longboard
Daryn Mcbride (Mount Maunganui)
Men’s Bodyboard
Jarad Ferris (Gisborne)
Andrew Lowe (Blaketown)
Women’s Bodyboard
Mihi Wells (Auckland)
About International Surfing Association (ISA)
The International Surfing Association (ISA) is recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as the World Governing Authority for surfing, bodyboarding and surfriding. It was originally founded as the International Surfing Federation in 1964 and has been running world championships since 1964, and the Junior World Championships since 1980.
The event will be broadcast live over the net via www.isasurf.org. Media releases on the team’s performance will be distributed daily throughout the event. For further information regarding the New Zealand Junior Surfing Team please contact Ben Kennings at Surfing New Zealand 07 8250018, 0212278732 or email benkennings@surfingnz.co.nz.
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Ends
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