Joe Palmer - Image Tony Baker

Challenging conditions greeted competitors at the third and final event of the 2012 Northland Scholastics Surfing Series (NSSS) held at Mangawhai Heads on Friday 20^thJuly 2012. Blustery onshore winds and wintery cold temperatures were no deterrent though for the 40 odd surfers from schools across Northland, with the top surfers making the most of the 1.0-2.0m waves on offer.

With valuable series points on offer and the chance of being selected in the 2012 Quiksilver Northland Team, there were some close battles which made for some great viewing regardless of the weather. Joe Palmer (Kerikeri High School) stole the show in the premier Under 16 Boys Division surfing with the confidence he has become renowned for, winning his division and the overall series.

Earlier in the day it was Kye Bedford (WBHS), Matt Jensen (Bream Bay College) and Bodhi Van Der Ent (WBHS) who all showed good form progressing into the semi-final rounds.

One of the big match-ups of the day was between Rhys Whitaker (Bream Bay College) and Sergio Hansen (Kaitaia College) with both surfers neck and neck on the series ratings. Hansen, who was in the 2011 Northland team, had a slow start in his semi-final with Whitaker picking off the better scoring waves progressing into the final.

Heading into the final there was just a few points separating first and second places. But Palmer (Kerikeri High School) who just days before returned from three weeks training in Indonesia, dominated the final picking off two good scoring rides winning comfortably. Matt McGregor (Kamo High School) showed good skill and bashed a couple of hefty close-out sections to secure second place ahead of Rhys Whitaker (Bream Bay College) and Ryan Renall (Rodney College) in third equal.

The Under 18 Boys Division saw the early departure of Flynn Hart (WBHS) in the semi-finals and the rise of Fraser Seymour (WBHS) who posted his best result in 2012. Hart, who has placed 2^nd in the first two NSSS events, had an uncharacteristic slow start and as a result placed 5^th in the division. Seymour on the other hand surfed comfortably into the finals and in doing so putting himself in the potential selection picture for the 2012 Quiksilver Northland team.

Paul Moretti (Mimiwhangata) continued his dominance in the division comfortably winning ahead of Seymour in second place. Noah Gullick (WBHS) made a second finals appearance for 2012 placing 4^th behind fellow Team Captain William Bowden (WBHS) in 3^rd.

Other winners on the day included Paul Moretti (Raglan Area School) in the Boys Longboard, Robyn Turnbull (Raglan Area School) in the Under 18 Girls, Manu Scott-Arietta (WBHS) in the Under 14 Boys and Laura Lee (Kerikeri High School) in the Under 14 Girls.

Matt McGregor - Tony Baker	Paul Morett - Tony Bakeri
Under 16 Boys (L-R) Matt McGreggor, Ryan Renall, Joe Palmer, Rhys Whitaker - Tony Baker	Under 18 Girls (L-R) Julia Smith, Alex McKenzie, Robyn Turnball - Tony Baker

Please see below a summary of results from the event:

2012 NSSS3 Results – Mangawhai Heads 20^th July 2012

Boys Longboard
1^st Paul Moretti (Mimiwhangata /Raglan Area School)  2^nd Mitch McRae (Rodney College)

U14 Boys
1^st Manu Scott-Arietta (WBHS) 2^nd  Sam Nemeroff (Kaitaia College)  3^rd Spencer Harrison (Kaitaia College) 4^th Tait Merthens (Kaitaia College) 4^th Zac Springford (Kaitaia College)

U14 Girls
1^st Laura Lee (Kerikeri High School) 2^nd  Breeze Dirham (Kerikeri High School) 3^rd Tasha Burton (Kerikeri High School)

U16 Boys
1^st Joe Palmer (Kerikeri High School) 2^nd Matt McGregor (Kamo High School) 3^rd Rhys Whitaker (Bream Bay College) 3^rd Ryan Renall (Rodney College)

U18 Girls
1st Robyn Turnbull (Mangawhai / Raglan Area School) 2^nd Julia Smith (Rodney College) 3^rd Alex McKenzie (WGHS)

U18 Boys
1st Paul Moretti (Mimiwhangata / Raglan Area School) 2^nd Fraser Seymour (WBHS) 3^rd William Bowden (WBHS) 4^th Noah Gullick (WBHS)

The 2012 Northland Scholastic Surfing Series is proudly supported by the following groups and organisations: Quiksilver New Zealand, Sport Northland, North Coast Boardriders and Mangawhai Board Riders.

The 2012 Quiksilver Northland team will be announced in the next week and preparation will start for the 2012 National Scholastics Surfing Championships to be held in Taranaki 1^st-5^th October 2012.

Please don’t hesitate to get in contact if you have any queries about the 2012 NSSS or would like to come onboard as a team sponsor.

Tony Baker // 2012 NSSS - Series Organiser
Team Manager - 2012 Quiksilver Northland Scholastics Surfing Team
021 907066