Arnette Women’s Surfing Open

Surfing New Zealand
Tay Street, Mount Maunganui
12 - 13 March 2005

SANTORIK TO GOOD AS SHE DEFENDS TITLE AT THE ARNETTE WOMEN’S OPEN

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 13 March 2005: - - Jessica Santorik (Raglan) was to good for the field today (Sunday) at the Arnette Women’s Surfing Open winning the final and in doing so defending her title she won in 2004. Nearing the end of a big summer of competitive surfing Santorik continues to dominate the Women’s scene winning two national titles, two Lion Red Pro Surfing Tour events as well as the overall 2005 Series.

In the 25 minute final Santorik did all she could in the small 2ft surf at Mount Maunganui’s Tay Street. Santorik lead from the outset racking up two waves early on and putting the pressure on her three counterparts. Late in the final and on her last wave, Santorik put it beyond doubt scoring 5.30 to strengthen her lead. Hester Sutherland Stacey of Mount Maunganui held second place for much of the final before Hareb struck back on her last two waves to sneak into second narrowly edging Sutherland-Stacey into third. Jess Welch (Gisborne) finished fourth in the final after contesting several heats today including the Under 18s and Under 16s finals.

Local girl Michelle Langdon switched disciplines to surf in the Opanui Longboard event and in doing so surfed her way to first place over some seasoned campaigners. In a final with international flavour, Langdon forced her nine foot long board through some good turns to post a total heat score of 9.5 pipping double finalist Pauline Pullman (Sandy Bay) who finished in second. Nicky Murden (Mnt) placed third over Anau Burling one of two Tongan surfers to make it to the finals of the event.

Anna Jolly (Auck) made up for her early loss in the Longboard division by latching on to the best waves in the Over 30s final to take it out over Pauline Pullman. Both surfers shared the better waves in the final but it was an early 5.0 point ride on her first wave that sealed the win for Jolly. Gina Kennings (Rag) tried hard to find some of the set waves but had to settle for third place ahead of Wellington’s Monique Hedges.

Paige Hareb made it two from two in the age group divisions when she reversed the tables to beat current National Champion Jess Santorik in the Under 18s division. Hareb was able to link up long sections in the small waves and her tiny frame meant that the small waves were still highly surfable. Santorik couldn’t keep up with Hareb having to settle for second ahead of Jess Welch (Gis) and Pipi Sopp (WGM) who finished in third and fourth respectively.

The Arnette Under 16 Girls was Hareb’s second win after she dominated the final scoring the two highest waves in the 25 minutes for a total of 9.5. As the tide went out the girls decided to stay on the inside reform restricting their scoring. In a tight three way tussle for the remaining spots it was Jessica Welch that edged out Wini Paul (Sandy Bay) in third and Pae Pou (Riverton) finished in fourth.

The Under 14 Girls efforts were hampered by the outgoing tide as all four surfers again decided to sit closer to the shore and catch the reforms. In a tight low scoring affair it was Gisborne surfer Renee Pearson that came out on top ahead of Maddy Phillips (Auck), Sonia Burling (Tonga) and Grace Spiers (WGM).

Earlier Grace Spiers (WGM) looked a cut above the other three Under 12 finalists as she smoothly surfed her way to a win. Catching the better waves Spiers showed her competitive edge as she scored 7.0 and 6.25 to ‘combo’ her opponents. Alexis Poulter of Waihi Beach surfed her way to second with a couple good rides ahead of Ella Williams (WGM) who surfed some waves that were well overhead. Ella Von Huben placed fourth in the final in her first national event.

The Hula highest single wave score competition was won by Jessica Santorik earlier on in the morning during the Semifinals of the Open Women. Santorik linked some brilliant turns to take home the Hula cash with the best wave of the event totaling 8.0.

Keeping up her exceptional form Santorik took to the water in the Expression Session and busted her fins out the backs of waves on several occasions with her best ride good enough to take out the Island Style Expression Session and walk away with yet another $500 cash.

Below are the final results from the Arnette Women’s Open.

OPEN WOMEN

Semifinals
Heat one Jessica Santorik, Rag, 1, Paige Hareb, Tara, 2, Pipi Sopp, WGM, 3, Monique Hedges, Wgtn, 4
Heat two Hester Sutherland-Stacey, Mnt, 1, Jessica Welch, Gis, 2, Wini Paul, 3 Sandy Bay, , Kara Stephenson, Rag, 4

Finals
Heat one Jessica Santorik, Rag, 1, Paige Hareb, Tara, 2, Hester Sutherland-Stacey, Mnt, 3, Jessica Welch, Gis, 4

U18 GIRLS

Semifinals
Heat one Jessica Santorik, Rag, 1, Jessica Welch, Gis, 2, Pae Pou, Riverton, 3
Heat two Paige Hareb, Tara, 1, Pipi Sopp, WGM, 2, Clare Thomson, Gis, 3

Finals
Paige Hareb, Tara, 1, Jessica Santorik, Rag, 2, Jessica Welch, Gis, 3, Pipi Sopp, WGM, 4

UNDER 16 GIRLS

Semifinals
Heat one Paige Hareb, Tara, 1, Jessica Welch, Gis, 2, Laura Rishworth, Mnt, 3, Lavina Sunia, 4
Heat two Wini Paul, Sandy Bay, 1, Pae Pou, Riverton, 2, Anna Hadfield, Mnt, 3, Grace Beange, Waihi Bch, 4

Finals
Heat one Paige Hareb, Tara, 1, Jessica Welch, Gis, 2, Wini Paul, Sandy Bay, 3, Pae Pou, Riverton, 4

UNDER 14 GIRLS

Finals
Renee Pearson, Gis, 1, Maddy Phillips, Auck, 2, Sonia Burling, Tonga, 3, Grace Spiers, WGM, 4

UNDER 12 GIRLS

Finals
Grace Spiers, WGM, 1, Alexis Poulter, Waihi Bch, 2, Ella Williams, WGM, 3, Ella Von Huben, Rag, 4

LONGBOARD

Semifinals
Heat one Pauline Pullman, Sandy Bay, 1, Anau Burling, Tonga, 2, Wini Paul, Sandy Bay, 3
Heat two Michelle Langdon, Mnt, 1, Nicky Murden, Mnt, 2, Jess Santorik, Rag, 3 

Finals
Michelle Langdon, Mnt, 1, Pauline Pullman, Sandy Bay, 2, Nicky Murden, Mnt, 3, Anau Burling, Tonga, 4

Over 30's

Semifinals
Heat one Pauline Pullman, Sandy Bay, 1, Monique Hedges, Wgtn, 2, Lee Barraclough, Whtianga, 3, Sheryl Lowe, Mnt, 4
Heat two Gina Kennings, Rag, 1, Anna Jolly, Piha, 2, Belinda Goodwin, Mnt, 3, Gina Samson, Waihi, 4

Finals
Anna Jolly, Piha, 1, Pauline Pullman, Sandy Bay, 2, Gina Kennings, Rag, 3, , Monique Hedges, Wgtn, 4 p For more information on the event please contact Jonette Mead on 021729937 or Jonettemead@xtra.co.nz. Alternatively email Surfing New Zealand on benkennings@surfingnz.co.nz.

The 2005 Arnette Women’s Surfing Open is brought to you by Arnette, Bodyline, Gallaz, Rip Curl, Hula, Famous Surf Wax, Opanui, Island Tribe, Havaianas, Starlet, New Zealand Surfing Magazine, Island Style, Nevada, Assault and ZM.

The event would be not possible without the support of Surfing New Zealand and Bay of Plenty Women’s Boardriders.

More Australasian Surfing News available here
Check the latest Australasian Surf Reports and Forecasts

Ben Kennings
benkennings@surfingnz.co.nz

SNZ Contests - Surfersvillage