Leon Santorik - Image PhotoCPL

Following a turbulent and eventful start to the three-day South Island championships at St Clair, conditions settled to favour some top action on Saturday and Sunday.

Among those to feature in the open men's section were top seeds Anthony Hema (Westport), Leon Santorik (Raglan), Tim O'Connor (Mount Maunganui) and Sam Dunfoy (Kaikoura).

O'Connor saved his best until last with a masterful display of board riding, absolutely Smashing his opponents to record the highest score of any round throughout the three days of competition. He ending the finals section by scoring a massive 15.10 points.

O'Connor was matched on the first run in the final only by Santorik. The pair both picked really good right handers to score in the high sevens and leave Hema and Dunfoy playing catch-up.

Santorik and O'Connor matched each other wave for wave until O'Connor sealed victory on his final run after picking a really good left-hander and executing three massive vertical backhand turns.

It was a popular victory for the 21-year-old polytech student from the Bay of Plenty, who travelled the furthest to pick up the $1500 prize.

O'Connor's final ride buried any hope Santorik had of lifting the trophy and winner's cheque.

Santorik finished the final on 11.77 points with Dunfoy third & Hema, the South Island circuit series leader, failed to fire and fell off the pace in the four-way final scoring 9.57 points.

Hema and Dunfoy will meet to decide the top South Island surfer late next month in the circuit decider at Kaikoura's O'Neill Cold Water Classic.

Local hope Felix Dickson, although eliminated in the open competition, bounced back to win the senior men's section.

He scored 10.90 points to hold out Hema, who also qualified for the final of this grade. Hema finished runner-up on 8.83 points with Aaron Lock (Sumner) third on 7.77 points Lock, who also picked up third place in the men's masters competition, was among those to impress throughout the three-day event.

As well as helping organisers with marshalling duties, he was competing over three grades - open men, senior men and masters men. He made it to the quarterfinal stage of the open men's section and final rounds of both the senior men and masters men.

He had three 12-hour days either competing or undertaking his role as one of the event's officials.

Hayley Coakes was the toast of the locals, winning the open women's title by scoring 8 points to hold out the highly competitive Alethea Lock (Sumner), who scored 6.13 points to finish second. Tash Civil (Dunedin) was third on 6.6.10 points.

The junior men's final was a battle between two twin brothers currently studying in Dunedin John and Robert Courian who shared the spoils on points with John gained the title on count back & Tane Wallis (Piha) was third on 7.47 points.

The junior women's final was dominated by Canterbury surfers Kristi Zarifeh (Sumner) and Alethea Lock.

Zarifeh won the title on 5.50 points from Lock who added to her runner-up title in the open women's competition by coming second on 3.53 points. Emily Nicholson (Waikuku) was third on 1.50 points.

Official Results below:

South Island Surf Champs 2011

SOL Open Mens
Tim O'Connor Mount 1st
Leon Santorik Raglan 2nd
Sam Dunfoy Kaik 3rd
Anthony Hema Westport 4^th

Esplanade OPEN WOMENS
Hayley Coakes Dunedin 1st
Alethea Lock Sumner 2nd
Tash Civil Dunedin 3rd
Kristi Zarifeh Sumner 4^th

Rip Curl JUNIOR MEN
John Courian Dunedin 1^st
Robert Courian Dunedin 2^nd
Tane Wallis Piha 3^rd
Tom Bracegirdle Dunedin 4^th

...Lost SENIORS
Felix Dickson Dunedin 1^st
Anthony Hema Westport 2nd
Aaron Lock Sumner 3rd
Lee Morris New Brighton 4^th

Hydro Surf LONGBOARD
Leroy Rust Dunedin 1^st
Dan Warren New Brighton 2^nd
Josh Martin Westport 3^rd
Jake Barton Dunedin 4^th

Insight MASTERS
Zane Smith Greymouth 1st
Richard Ayson Dunedin 2nd
Aaron Lock Sumner 3rd
Neill Robb Sumner 4th

Zaibatsu and Starfish GRAND MASTER
Dean Cooke New Brighton 1st
Grahame Carse Dunedin 2^nd
Kerry McNally Dunedin 3rd
Neill Robb Sumner 4th

Electric JUNIOR WOMENS
Kristi Zarifeh Sumner 1st
Alethea Lock Sumner 2^nd
Emily Nicolson Waikuku 3^rd

Quarry Beach CADETS
Tane Wallis Piha 1st
Jack Hawke North Wai 2nd
Nick Tuhikarama North Wai 3^rd
Xavier Campbell Dunedin 4th

R & R Sport Grommets
Harrison Whiteside New Brighton 1^st
Max Marshall Sumner 2^nd
Xavier Campbell Dunedin 3^rd
Rory Edmonds North Wai 4^th

SOL, Rip Curl, The Esplanade Restaurant, Lost Clothing, Hydro Surf, Electric Sunglasses, Quarry Beach Surfboards, Star Fish Cafe, Insight Clothing, R & R Sport, Zaibatsu Hair Art, Kiwi Surf & South Coast Boardriders Association.

Thanks to all the volunteers and sponsors who made this event possible. We look forward to next years event being even bigger & brighter.