Dune Kennings - Image Cory/NZ Surfing Magazine

Surfing under the watchful eye of New Zealand’s most celebrated male surfer, Maz Quinn (Gis), the country’s best grommets didn’t let the small surf conditions on day one of the Quiksilver King of the Groms presented by Don’t Let The Sun Get Under Your Skin get to them as they surfed to outstanding scores in the tough 0.5m conditions at Makorori Beach, Gisborne.

With a trip to France and a chance to compete against the world’s best young surfers, up for grabs in the Quiksilver Under 16 Boys Division, the first round saw game faces on all of the contenders as they approached their heats with steely determination not often seen in the early stages of events.

Opponents went about their pre heat warm ups analysing conditions and loosening up before hitting the water to advance their case to claim the biggest prize in junior surfing.

Dune Kennings (WGM) pushed hard in the small conditions posting an 8.5 point ride for one lefthander that he completed three big backhand re-entries.  The wave set him up for a big heat win in which he also added a good 6.83 point ride on a right-hander.

“I thought my rights were better but on that left I made sure that I put my board up there a few times and got as vertical as I could” said Kennings.  “I really want to do my best at this event and win the trip to France.  This is one of the last grom comps I am eligible for so I want to finish on a high.  To go to France, compete and see the best guys in the world at the Quiky Pro would be a dream come true” added Kennings.

Kennings progressed alongside New Zealand representative Jordan Griffin (Mnt) who placed second with an 11.73 point heat total.

Griffin progressed along with his two team mates Elliot Paerata – Reid (Piha) and Harrison Whiteside (Chch) who both moved through to the quarterfinals, Paerata – Reid winning his heat and Whiteside placing second.

Mount Maunganui surfers Kehu Butler and Jack Mills battled out the tightest heat of the day as they went head-to-head to win their heat.  The younger of the two, Butler, got the nod by 0.20 points with his smooth surfing scoring 13.67 out of a possible 20 points.

It was Butler that went on to surf in two additional divisions during the day, firstly winning his heat in the DC Under 14 Boys Division and then the Sequence Under 12 Boys early in the afternoon.  Butler won both heats to remain undefeated on day one scoring 14.33 in the Under 14s and 12.33 in the Under 12s.

Butler was challenged by Tane Bowden (WGM) in the Under 14 Boys Division who was also impressive posting a high heat score of 13.67.  The two were joined by Manu Scott – Arrieta (Sandy Bay) and Isaac Kettle (Tara) as the other two heat winners of the first round.

Bowden was again chasing down Butler in the Under 12 Boys Division where he won his first round heat to move through to the final.  The two surfers will be joined in the final by Lee Ririnui (Mnt) and Jared Gebert (Ohope).

The Roxy Under 16 Girls Division saw two major upsets in the first round.  Defending event champion Dayna Story (Gis) suffered defeat at the hands of New Zealand representative Jasmine Smith (Gis) and Bianca Sansom (Auck). 

It was Sansom’s twin sister Gabriela who was next to suffer a shock elimination losing in the final heat of the round when Claudia Fraser (Piha) and Milly Crewe (Muri) got the upper hand, Crewe ousting Sansom by 0.10 points.  Sansom, the winner of the New Zealand Women’s Open is also the ratings leader for the Under 16 Girls Division.  Her exit opens up the opportunity for one of the final six surfers to win the trip to Australia to witness the best female surfers in the world compete at the Roxy Pro in March 2013.

It was Smith who is fresh back from the World Junior Championship in Panama only two days ago that top scored in the round with 14.40 points along with Fraser on 11.80 that shone above their opponents.  Local surfer Abby Falwasser – Logan was the other winner of the first round heats moving her way to the semifinals and a chance at securing back to back finals berths on day two.  

Elliot Paerata - Reid - Image Cory/NZ Surfing Magazine	Kehu Butler - Image Cory/NZ Surfing Magazine
Jack Mills - Image Cory/NZ Surfing Magazine	Taylor Hutchison - Image Cory/NZ Surfing Magazine

Action will take place from 8:00am on Sunday.  Organisers will assess conditions at several beaches before confirming the event location.  Five hours surfing is required to complete the event.

Please see below for results from day one of Maz Quinn’s Quiksilver King of the Groms presented by Don’t Let The Sun Get Under Your Skin held today.

 

Quiksilver Under 16 Boys Round 1
Heat 1
Joshua Farr (Tara), 11.7, 1, Matt McGreggor (Whngrei), 6.5, 2, Tom Mason (Auck), 6, 3, Jack Wilson (ChCh), 5.97, 4
Heat 2
Kehu Butler (Arataki), 13.67, 1, Jack Mills (BOP), 13.47, 2, Joe Palmer (Kerikeri), 8.33, 3, George Busby (Gis), 5.17, 4
Heat 3
Manu Scott-Arrieta (Sandy Bay), 9.43, 1, Isaac Kettle (Tara), 7.9, 2, Harrison Mossop (Tau), 7.23, 3, Zane Hicks (Ocean Beach), 5.4, 4
Heat 4
Elliot Paerata - Reid (Piha), 11.4, 1, Caleb Braithwaite (Whtane), 7, 2, Toa Macdonald (Waitara), 5.67, 3, Paraone Muru (Ohope), 2.03, 4
Heat 5
Dune Kennings (Whmata), 15.33, 1, Jordan Griffin (Mnt), 11.73, 2, Callum Chuter (Tau), 6.63, 3, Leroy Shaw (Gis), 3.5, 4
Heat 6
Nicolaj Probst (Ohope), 8.17, 1, Taylor Hutchison (Rag), 8.1, 2, Kayden Mayes (Tau), 5.67, 3, Daniel Farr (Tara), 4.67, 4
Heat 7
McKenzie Bowden (Whmata), 12.8, 1, Te Rapai Barbarich Love (Tara), 7.9, 2, Jonas Tawharu (Mnt), 7.1, 3, Jack Virtue (Gis), 5.77, 4
Heat 8
Quin Matenga (Mnt), 8.5, 1, Harrison Whiteside (ChCh), 8.07, 2, Mitch Kent (Auck), 7.87, 3, Riccardo Lucibella (Tara), 5.83, 4


DC Shoes Under 14 Boys Trials
Jared Gebert (Ohope), 7, 1, Blake Brown (Gis), 5.5, 2, Jared Dickson-Smith, 5.37, 3, Kobe Johnson (Gis), 4.23, 4

DC Shoes Under 14 Boys Round 1
Heat 1
Tane Bowden (Whmata), 13.67, 1, Reuben Mottart (Gis), 9.27, 2, Joshua Farr (Tara), 7.77, 3, Lee Ririnui (Mnt), 7.4, 4
Heat 2
Kehu Butler (Arataki), 14.33, 1, Ben McCulloch (Gis), 6.78, 2, Jack Wilson (ChCh), 5.83, 3, Blake Brown (Gis), 4.17, 4
Heat 3
Manu Scott-Arrieta (Sandy Bay), 9.63, 1, Jonas Tawharu (Mnt), 8, 2, Jared Gebert (Ohope), 4.97, 3, Harry Macintosh (Waiheke Is), 3.1, 4
Heat 4
Isaac Kettle (Tara), 8.67, 1, Daniel Farr (Tara), 7.33, 2, Max Dicken (Auck), 4.17, 3, Leroy Shaw (Gis), 2.67, 4


Sequence Under 12 Boys Semifinals
Heat 1
Kehu Butler (Arataki), 12.33, 1, Lee Ririnui (Mnt), 7.8, 2, William Barnes (Mt), 6.33, 3, Tayne Daly (Gis), 4.33, 4
Heat 2
Tane Bowden (Whmata), 11.83, 1, Jared Gebert (Ohope), 8.87, 2, Lockie O’Connor (Mnt), 5.57, 3, James Ririnui (Mnt), 4.44, 4


Roxy Under 16 Girls Round 1
Heat 1
Abby Falwasser-Logan (Gis), 8.0, 1, Nam Northcott (Tara), 6.97, 2, Raiha Ensor (Mnt), 3.87, 3, Elin Tawharu (Mnt), 3, 4
Heat 2
Jasmine Smith (Gis), 14.4, 1, Bianca Sansom (Auck), 7.07, 2, Dayna Story (Gis), 5.5, 3
Heat 3
Claudia Fraser (Auck), 11.8, 1, Milly Crew (Muri), 7.37, 2, Gabriella Sansom (Auck), 7.27, 3, Amy Dungan (Gis), 2.1, 4

Further Information
For further information on Maz Quinn’s Quiksilver King of the Groms please contact Surfing New Zealand’s Ben Kennings on 021 2278732 or email benkennings@surfingnz.co.nz. Alternatively please contact Quiksilver Marketing Manager Maz Quinn on 021367629 or email maz.quinn@quiksilver.com.au.

Imagery
High resolution action images of the surfing will be available to media free of charge courtesy of New Zealand Surfing Magazine.

Event Hotline
The Surfing New Zealand event hotline is 0211134506.  This will be updated daily at approximately 7am with venue, divisions contested and conditions for the day.

Partners
The Maz Quinn Quiksilver King of the Groms event is proudly sponsored by Quiksilver, Roxy, Don’t Let The Sun Get Under Your Skin, DC Shoes, Sequence Surf Shop, Surfers Skin, Pro Lite, Sticky Johnson and NZ Surfing Magazine.

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