Kereopa wins Lions Red Super 16 and takes out 2005 tour

Lion Red Super 16

SNZ Lion Red Pro Surfing Tour
Piha Beach, Auckland
26 February 2005

KEREOPA MAKES IT TWO IN A ROW AT THE SUPER 16

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 22 February 2005: - - Daniel Kereopa (Rag) has won the Lion Red Super 16 today (Saturday) and in doing so has taken out the Lion Red Pro Surfing Tour for 2005. Kereopa was in a day long battle with Maz Quinn of Gisborne as they fought through the round robin heats before winning their semi finals and moving on to the final to face each other for the first time in the day.

The final contested in small but clean 2ft surf at Piha Beach was never a foregone conclusion for the entire 30 minute duration. Kereopa was solid in his surfing making the most of the small right handers on the out going tide. Kereopa found himself in second place for much of the final after Luke Cederman opened his account with an 8.75. However, Kereopa fought back scoring a 6.75 and 6.5 to take the lead. Kereopa looked light footed throwing spray on some big carves and floating over some of the sections that broke in front of him.

Maz Quinn hovered at the back of the field before locking an awesome 7.65 that included a nice frontside air to complete his wave. The wave combined with an earlier 5.50 was enough to push Quinn into second and within 0.10 of Kereopa. Requiring a 5.61 for the win however, it was not to eventuate with the ocean not playing the right cards for the 5.61 that Quinn needed.

Cederman having the last say of the day took off with 5 seconds remaining in the final needing a 4.5 for the win. Again the fortunes went Kereopa’s way as Cederman fell on his second turn to effectively end his chances of taking his first ever win. Cederman will be more than stoked with his performance making the final and holding the lead for half of the final. Being the only backhand surfer in the final his first 8.75 point ride was made up of three huge vertical re-entries. The sole Australian Drew Everest could only manage fourth with a score of 10.60 but still put on an impressive display in the small surf.

Earlier Quinn and Cederman eliminated Ben Kennings (WGM) and Justin Souter (Mnt) in semi final one while Kereopa and Everest eliminated Blair Stewart and Simon Deken (Tara) in semi final two.

In the Women’s division, no one could touch the current National Champion Jessica Santorik (Rag) as she went through the day unbeaten to take out the event. Santorik looked strong on her backhand something that has paid dividends even though she comes from the long left handers of Raglan. Scoring 13.50 in the final she won over Wini Paul (Sandy Bay) who valiantly tried to keep up but could only manage one good 6.0 point ride in her 9.25 total. Placing third was Kara Stephenson (Rag) scoring 7.10 and Pipi Sopp (WGM) placed fourth with a score of 5.50.

Lion Red Super 16 Round Robin Points Table

Round 1 Round 2 Round 2 TOTAL
1 Maz Quinn, Gis 10 10 10 30
2 Daniel Kereopa, Rag 7 10 10 27
3 Blair Stewart, Gis 10 7 10 27
4 Justin Souter, Bop 5 10 10 25
5 Ben Kennings, Cor 7 7 7 21
6 Simon Deken, Tara 10 7 3 20
7 Luke Cederman, Rag 10 7 3 20
8 Drew Everest, W-Aust 3 10 7 20
9 Morehu Roberts, Rag 7 5 7 19
10 Mike Banks, Rag 7 3 5 15
10 Mark Dovey, Bop 3 5 7 15
12 Jos Kennings, Cor 5 5 3 13
12 Damon Gunness, Gis 3 5 5 13
12 Jason Zimmerman,Tara 5 3 5 13
15 Leon Santorik, Rag 5 3 3 11
15 Larry Fisher, Piha 3 3 5 11

1 Jessica Santorik, Rag 1 1 1 3
2 Kara Stephenson, Rag 3 2 3 8
3 Wini Paul, Sandy Bay 2 3 2 7
4 Pipi Sopp, Cor 4 4 4 12

Open Men’s Semi Finals
Maz Quinn (Gis), 1, Luke Cederman (Rag), 2, Ben Kennings (WGM), 3, Justin Souter, (Mnt), 4
Daniel Kereopa (Rag), 1, Drew Everest (Aus), 2, Blair Stewart (Gis), 3, Simon Deken (Tara), 4

Open Men’s Final
Daniel Kereopa (Rag), 1st, Maz Quinn (Gis), 2, Luke Cederman (Rag), 3, Drew Everest (Aus), 4

Open Women’s Final
Jessica Santorik (Rag), 1, Wini Paul (Sandy Bay), 2, Kara Stephenson (Rag), 3, Pipi Sopp (WGM), 4

For more information on the event please contact Ben Kennings at Surfing New Zealand on 0274 787369 or Nick Brown Haysom on 0274630208. Alternatively email Surfing New Zealand - benkennings@surfingnz.co.nz.

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