Kereopa, Clarkson, Roberts victorious at Rip Curl Pro NZ

The Rip Curl Pro

Lion Red Pro Surfing Tour
Surfing New Zealand
Manu Bay, Raglan
18 – 20 February 2005

THREEPEAT FOR RAGLAN SURFERS AT RIP CURL PRO

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 20 February 2005: - - Raglan surfers Daniel Kereopa, Kelly Clarkson and Morehu Roberts made it a clean sweep for locals winning all three divisions at the Rip Curl Pro today (Sunday). The Rip Curl Pro was the third and penultimate event on the Lion Red Pro Surfing Tour.

Kereopa completed the clean sweep by local surfers after winning the Open Men’s final in fine fashion. The final was a tight battle between all four surfers early on with the lead changing several times until Kereopa hit the front on consecutive waves that scored 8.0 and 7.4. Not finished yet and requiring an excellent wave to put it beyond Maz Quinn’s reach, Kereopa caught the best wave of the final and proceeded to work it all the way down the point to score a 9.5. Kereopa knew almost every section of the wave and his class proved too much. With the final hooter sounding, an ecstatic Kereopa let out a rapturous hoot with his hands raised in the air. This was the second time Kereopa has won on his home turf of Manu Bay and he was proud of it (2002 was the last time Kereopa won this event). At the prize giving Kereopa commented that “It is good to win at home again, I haven’t done it in a couple of years. I think this lets all the boys know that I am back from holiday”. Kereopa took a one year hiatus in 2004 for family reasons but his competitive edge has certainly not left him.

Maz Quinn was never out of the hunt after posting a 9.0 on his second wave of the final. However, after Kereopa posted his 9.5, Quinn needed an 8.51 and that proved too difficult in the decreasing 1.0m swell. Quinn finished with a total heat score of 17.35 to place second over Mike Banks (Rag). It was the first time Banks had contested a final of this calibre and he lead early on with scores of a 7.5 and 6.00 but when the boys on their backhand turned on the vertical re-entries, Banks ultimately required a combination of waves to catch up. Not disgraced with his third placing Banks did enough to push him up into the top 16 surfers and gain a place at next weekend’s elite Lion Red Super 16 event. Simon Deken (Tara) placed fourth in the final not being able to pick up the better shaped waves and found it difficult to show his sharp skills in the smaller weaker conditions today. Deken finished with a total heat score of 13.5.

Earlier in the semi finals, Deken and Banks eliminated Leon Santorik (Rag) while Kereopa and Quinn eliminated Jos Kennings (WGM).

The Open Women’s final came down to a two horse race with Kelly Clarkson (Rag) getting the nod over Lisa Hurunui (Gis). It wasn’t until the final hooter sounded that the Calrkson took the lead. After requiring a 7.25 on her last wave in the dying seconds, Clarkson took off on a set wave and smashed the lip several times sending spray flying. Her smooth forehand surfing nurtured on the exact same point breaks paid huge dividends and the judges awarded her a 7.5 to snatch victory. Signs were looking ominous early on as Lisa Hurunui’s first two waves tallied 16.00 (8.25 and 7.75). She held a commanding lead for much of the 30 minute final surfing smooth and fast but had to settle for second place. Current National Champion Jess Santorik (Rag) placed third after not being able to match the aggression that Clarkson and Hurunui showed scoring a total heat score of 10.75. Her result was enough to see her lead the ratings going into the Lion Red Super 16 next weekend which will pit the top four girls against one another. Kara Stephenson (Rag) placed fourth in the final just behind Santorik with a score of 10.35.

Rounding out the Raglan threepeat, Morehu Roberts took out the Under 18 Junior Men scoring 17.95 in the final. Roberts opened his account on the second wave surfed in the final with a precisely surfed 9.25 point ride. Another to hone his skills on the points, Roberts made the most of what was on offer and looked to have gained valuable experience from his recent time competing in Australia. Roberts did however have to wait until late in the heat where he picked off a small inside wave that again provided him with what he needed to get a score of 8.7. Dean Amess (WGM) placed second in a close battle with Kierin Van Der Helder (Rag). Amess was also Robert’s closest competitor after posting an 8.0 and then an 8.85 early on to lead for much of the final. Amess surfed solidly with big flowing turns in the pocket of the waves. Van Der Helder who had looked the goods all weekend surfed another brilliant heat but could not find that extra something that the judges were looking for to win the event and make it two in a row this year finishing with an impressive 16.00 total heat score that only netted him third place. Joe Gethen of Hawkes Bay placed fourth after mixing it up early with a 7.0 on his first ride but fell off the pace toward the end to end with a total heat score of 13.25 requiring a combination of scores for the win.

Roberts with his win leap frogged Van Der Helder to win the Junior Men’s Series for 2005. Van Der Helder retained second place with Dean Amess jumping up to third on the final ratings.

Today’s results are set out below. The Top 16 Open Men’s Surfers and Top 4 Open Women’s surfers to contest next weekend’s event are also shown below.

Open Men’s Semifinals
Heat one
Simon Deken, Tara, 1, Mike Banks, Rag, 2, Leon Santorik, Rag, 3
Heat two
Daniel Kereopa, Rag, 1, Maz Quinn, Gis, 2, Jos Kennings, WGM, 3

Open Men’s Finals
Daniel Kereopa, Rag, 1, Maz Quinn, Gis, 2, Mike Banks, Rag, 3, Simon Deken, Tara, 4

Junior Men (Under 18) Semifinals
Heat one
Kierin Van Der Helder, Rag, 1, Dean Amess, WGM, 2, Tim O'Connor, Mnt, 3
Heat two
Morehu Roberts, Rag, 1, Joe Gethen, Te Awanga, 2, Luke Hughes, Rag, 3

Junior Men (Under 18) Finals
Morehu Roberts, Rag, 1, Dean Amess, WGM, 2, Kierin Van Der Helder, Rag, 3, Joe Gethen, Te Awanga, 4

Open Women Semifinals
Heat One,
Jessica Santorik, Rag, 1, Kara Stephenson, Rag, 2, Sophie Moore, Auck, 3, Naioli Pratt, Te Awamutu, 4
Heat two
Lisa Hurunui, Gis, 1, Kelly Clarkson, Rag, 2, Jessica Welch, Gis, 3, Clare Thomson, Gis, 4

Open Women Finals
Kelly Clarkson, Rag, 1, Lisa Hurunui, Gis, 2, Jessica Santorik, Rag, 3, Kara Stephenson, Rag, 4

LION RED PRO SURFING TOUR – RATINGS AFTER EVENT THREE – THE RIP CURL PRO

Open Men
1 Justin Souter, Bop
2 Daniel Kereopa, Rag
3 Maz Quinn, Gis
4 Leon Santorik, Rag
5 Blair Stewart, Gis
6 Larry Fisher, Piha
7 Drew Everest, W-Aust
8 Damon Gunness, Gis
9 Mike Banks, Rag
10 Simon Deken, Tara
11 Ben Kennings, WGM
12 Jason Zimmerman, Tara
13 Morehu Roberts, Rag
14 Mark Dovey, Bop
15 Jos Kennings, WGM
16 Luke Cederman, Rag

Open Women
1 Jessica Santorik, Rag
2 Kara Stevenson, Rag
3 Wini Paul, Sandy Bay
4 Pipi Sopp, WGM

Previous reports:
# 1 : Tension builds as surfers head toward the Rip Curl Pro
# 2 : Local surfers dominate first day at Rip Curl Pro in Raglan
# 3 : Outstanding surfing in perfect conditions at Rip Curl Pro

For more information on the event please contact Ben Kennings on 0274 787369 or Leon Parkin – 021 386473.
Alternatively email Surfing New Zealand - benkennings@surfingnz.co.nz.

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