Maz Quinn makes a hattrick at Billabong Mahia SNZ Pro

Billabong Mahia Pro

Open Men and Women and Under 18 Junior Men
Rating: 5A ($14250 in cash and prizes)
Date: 10 - 11 April 2004
Location: Mahia Peninsula, NZ

DAY 2: QUINN COMPLETES HATTRICK AT BILLABONG MAHIA SNZ PRO

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 11 April 2004: - - Maz Quinn today made it three events in a row by winning the Open Men’s division of the Billabong Mahia SNZ Pro. In trying 2ft conditions at ‘Blacks’ Quinn managed to connect sections where others were falling and find critical pockets on waves that the other three competitors in the final were unable to find.

Quinn’s international experience was evident with the polished surfer not letting the conditions dictate his surfing. Quinn built on his scores eventually surfing ten waves before the end of the heat. Out of the wash came two scoring rides of 7.5 and 6.25 for a total heat score of 13.75. The win is the third for the season and three out of the three events that he has entered in 2004.

Quinn basically held the lead throughout the final. Chris Malone (Gis) played the waiting game as did Blair Stewart (Gis) in the hope that some bigger set waves would roll in from the south. The bigger waves never came and the surfers were left to start building scores later in the heat. Malone squeaked into second place (10.20) followed closely by both Blair Stewart (9.90) and Simon Deken (9.75).

Earlier in the semi finals Malone and Stewart beat Jeremy Evans (H Bay) and James Fowell (Gis) while Quinn and Deken disposed of Mark Dovey (Mnt) and Damon Gunness (Gis).

All four finalists showed great form over the weekend and throughout the first half of the year. Malone was also runner up to Quinn at Piha earlier in the year while Stewart and Deken were both finalists at the most recent event in Gisborne. The win will extend Quinn’s lead on the Surfing New Zealand ratings. The official ratings will be released this week.

In the Billabong Women’s division it was Lisa Hurunui who also used her international experience to overcome a young trio of surfers in the final. The Women’s final was a close tussle until the final hooter with Hurunui edging out the younger Airini Mason by 0.25. Hurunui’s two scoring waves (5.0 and 4.25) were the first two that she rode in the final. Unable to build on the two scores Hurunui left the other three girls playing catch up. Mason came home strong with a 5.0 point ride late but it was only enough for second. Santorik placed third with Clare Thomsen coming in at fourth place.

The win is Lisa Hurunui’s first of the year in New Zelaand after spending much of her time oversees gearing up for her international campaign on the Women’s World Qualifying Series.

Morehu Roberts (Rag) finally pulled off a complete performance to win his first ever Junior Final in the Billabong Juniors division. Roberts has made multiple finals in his time as a junior but it was today that he showed maturity in his surfing and strategy to take the win.

A standout surfer throughout the weekend in both the Open and Junior Men’s, Roberts takes a valuable win that will elevate him on the SNZ Pro Series ratings and give him confidence for up coming international events. Roberts dominated the final building on his scores finally racking up 6.9 and 6.75 as his two best scoring rides for a total of 13.65. His total tally left his opponents requiring near perfect rides by the end of the final. Richard Christie put up an early fight but was left short at the end of the heat finishing in second. Nathan Welch placed third with Owen McMillan in fourth both surfers struggling to find anything that offered more than an average scoring ride.

The Sunset Point Bar and Bistro sponsored the $1000 travel package that was a spot prize available to all participants present at the prize giving. Mark Dovey stepped forward to take the prize before all competitors sat down to a huge afternoon meal to finish the long weekend.

Results were as follows:-

Open Men Finals
Maz Quinn, Gis, 1, Chris Malone, 2, Blair Stewart, Gis, 3, Simon Deken, Tara, 4

Junior (U18) Finals
Morehu Roberts, Rag, 1, Richard Christie, Mah, 2, Nathan Welch, Gis, 3, Owen McMillan, Gis, 4

Women Finals
Lisa Hurunui, Gis, 1, Airini Mason, Mahia, 2, Jessica Santorik, Rag, 3, Clare Thomson, Gis, 4

DAY 1: MALONE TOP SCORES TO MANOUVRE INTO QUARTERS

Chris Malone dominated the first day of the Billabong Mahia SNZ Pro today as he surfed his way into the quarter finals of the event. Malone (Gis) top scored the day with a heat score of 15.95 comprising 8.35 and 7.6. It was a perfect start to the event for Malone and he will be looking to continue his form at the business end of the event tomorrow.

The day dawned to excellent 3-4ft (1.5m) with offshore winds at Blacks Beach. The surf remained good throughout the day with light winds, the conditions allowing competitors to show a full repertoire of moves.

Malone top scored but there were a stack of surfers close on his tail showing great form to progress to day two of the event. Number one seed Blair Stewart (Gis) showed that he surfs the area a fair bit as he scored 14.25 in his heat to beat Ben Kennings into second with a heat score of 13.60 but also progressing.

Maz Quinn (Gis) surfed the last heat of the second round in the Open Men Division and won out over an impressive Simon Deken (Tara) both surfers progressing to the quarter finals. Jeremy Evans (HB) and Damon Gunness (Gis) were two further surfers to show good form as they own their second round heats.

Tomorrows line up sees some tough battles looming with surfers looking to reap a stack of points in this 5A rated Billabong event that also boasts a cash prize pool of $14250.

In the Women’s division the international experience of Lisa Hurunui (Gis) shone through as she won through to the semi finals. In a tight heat with Airini Mason also of Gisborne the more experienced Hurunui showed more power and flow in her surfing while Mason surfed the better waves. In the end it was 0.10 that separated the two surfers who are likely to meet each other in the final. Earlier in heat one Hester Sutherland Stacey (Mt) continued good form winning her heat as did Jessica Welch (Gis) in heat three.

The Juniors were the last to surf for the day and relished the clean late afternoon conditions. Two familiar faces rose to the top in the quarter finals. First up was Nathan Welch (Gis) scoring 13.5 to win his heat. Not to be outdone, Richard Christie (Mah) went one better on his way to scoring 14.15 showing the consistency that has seen him rise to the top of the ranks in the junior men’s division.

Vann Riley (HB) surfed to a win in the last heat of the day with some committed backhand surfing. Others to progress to the semi finals were Owen McMillan (Gis), Blanton Smith (Tara) and Morehu Roberts (Rag).

Tomorrow the south swell is forecast to decrease. But word is filtering through of a new easterly swell building on the northeastern coast which could see the event being relocated to the reefs on the northern side of the peninsula. A decision will be made at 7am as to where the event will be held. With only five hours of surfing remaining to complete the event, optimal conditions will be paramount on the organisers minds in making any decisions on where and when to run the business end of the event.

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For further information on the Billabong Mahia SNZ Pro please contact;

Ben Kennings
(07) 8250018 or,
Contest Director Scott Casey
021728234.

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