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Jay Quinn - Image Cory / NZ Surfing Magazine
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Jay Quinn (Gis) heads into this weekend’s SOL Surf Series event with a massive ratings lead and a field of surfers minus his two international travelling companions. Quinn will be at Mount Maunganui to contest the Power Balance Pro, event four of the six-event series which takes place at Tay Street for two days starting Saturday 12th February.
Quinn won the first two events of the series but was runner up at the most recent event two weeks ago after being pipped at the post by a rampaging Richard Christie who snatched a vital victory to break Quinn’s winning streak.
Christie and Raglan’s Billy Stairmand are now heading to Brazil without Quinn and they will contest their first international event of the year while Quinn hunts out yet another domestic title to keep his momentum going in the lead up to his own international campaign.
“Financially it is a big commitment to go to Brazil for one event at the start of the year and unfortunately I am unable to do it this year” said Quinn. “However, I am competing at the Mount this weekend then heading to Australia to compete at an ASP event at Burleigh Heads. But basically my year doesn’t start until the O’Neill Cold Water Classic at home at the end of March” said Quinn of the prospect of the six-star ASP event scheduled for his home town starting 23 March.
Despite Christie and Stairmand being absent from the field this weekend, the top echelon of New Zealand surfing will be present including Jay’s older brother Maz who is searching for his first win of the year, a scenario that Jay thinks could be very dangerous.
“My bro hasn’t won so he will be frothing to do that and then you have the young ‘Mounties’ that blow up in those small waves so they will be sharp at home and ones to watch” said Quinn in reference to the likes of Tim O’Connor, Alex Dive and Matt Hewitt who will all be used to whatever conditions Tay Street dishes up this weekend.
Hewitt is back from Australia after competing on the ASP Australasia Pro Junior Series where he is ranked eighth. Hewitt will compete in his first SOL Surf Series event in over a year.
“It is always good to compete back at home with the local support and just being at home at your house is good and makes you feel more relaxed.”
Hewitt is another surfer who flies back to Australia next week for some promotional work and also to contest his first ASP World Tour event of the year.
Despite “not really” following the results back here in New Zealand over the last six weeks, Hewitt has checked out some of the highlights packages to see how the guys are surfing and see what he is up against this weekend.
The Power Balance Pro comes at a pivotal time of the season with only one regular season event remaining before the invitational SOL Super 16.
The winner of the Power Balance Pro automatically qualifies for the final event of the year and in doing so, avoids the pressure pot situation of the final regular season event. To date the only two surfers to have secured direct entry into the SOL Super 16 are Jay Quinn and Richard Christie.
The surf forecast for the weekend continues to improve with a small building swell predicted for the Bay of Plenty. Action will take place at Tay Street from 8.00am on Saturday and Sunday.
The Power Balance Pro also includes the Open Women’s and Under 20 Men’s divisions that will be contested over the two days.
The current SOL Surf Series rankings after event three of six are below:
Open Men’s Top 15
1, Jay Quinn (Gis)
2, Richard Christie (Mahia)
3, Maz Quinn (Gis)
4, Blair Stewart (Gis)
5, Tim O'Connor (Mnt)
6, Keone Campbell (Tara)
7, Luke Hughes (Rag)
8, Tane Wallis (Piha)
9, Jarred Hancox (Tara)
10, Nick White (Mnt)
11, Leon Santorik (Rag)
12, Billy Stairmand (Rag)
13, Morehu Roberts (Rag)
14, Ben Kennings (Whmata)
15, Zen Wallis (Piha)
Open Women’s Top 5
1, Ella Williams (Whmata)
2, Jessica Santorik (Rag)
3, Grace Spiers (Whmata)
4, Alexis Poulter (Rag)
5, Rosa Thompson (Auck)
Complete event write ups, results, surfer and industry ratings, images and audio interviews from the event can be viewed at Surfing New Zealand.
Please see below for the remaining two events that make up the 20010/11 SOL Surf Series.
Sol Series Event 5 - 11-13 March - Rip Curl Pro, Raglan (6-star)
Sol Series Event 6 - 2-3 April SOL Super 16, Mobile (6-star)
Information
For more information on the Power Balance Pro please contact Ben Kennings on 07 8250022 or 021 2278732. Alternatively 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 images will be available to media upon request. Images will be distributed free of charge courtesy of NZ Surfing Magazine.
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Event Hotline
The Surfing New Zealand event hotline is 0211134506. This will be updated daily at each SOL Series event with venues, divisions contested and conditions.
Sponsors
Generous support from Power Balance, SOL and Bay Boardriders Boardriders has made this event possible.
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