Hyundai National Surfing Championships 2006

Surfing New Zealand
Ahipara, Northland
7 - 14 January 2006

Hyundai National Surfing Championships draws strong field of surfers

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 6 January, 2006 : - - The Hyundai National Surfing Championships has drawn a very strong field of surfers as predicted with the quality waves of the Northland region being the focal point of many surfers attention over the coming week. The Championships are scheduled to take place from the 7th – 14th of January commencing this Saturday. 

In excess of 300 entries have been received across the 21 divisions being contested.  The likes of the Quinn brothers, Maz and Jay, head the field after returning from international duties along with Lisa Hurunui (Gis) who will contest the Open Women’s.  Bobby Hansen (Gis) will also be returning from Australia where he is currently competing in the World Pro Junior Championships. 

The large field of competitors is filled with no less than 60 Northland surfers who will all be out to win their respective divisions.  Surfers such as NZ junior representative Paco Divers (Whangarei) will be one to look out for in the Under 16 Boys as will his buddy Oliver Bone.  The Dowsett brothers always turn heads at national events and they will be a force to be reckoned with in the Open Men’s. 

Complementing these surfers will be the mother-daughter combination of Pauline Pullman and Wini Paul who will be relishing the chance to take home a title.  All Northland surfers go in the draw to win the Fiji travel package kindly donated by the local surf shops and surf schools. With huge storm cycles tracking under the country for the past two weeks, weather patterns look favourable for good surf conditions next week.

Quick Facts 

What:  The 2006 Hyundai National Surfing Championships is the fourth of six events on the Lion Red Pro Surfing Tour for 2005/06. 
When:  Saturday 7th – Saturday 14th of January 2006.
Where: Three Northland surf locations including the world famous left hand points of Shipwreck Bay, ‘The Bluff’ up the coast along Ninety Mile Beach and Rarawa Beach on the East Coast. 
Who:  In excess of 300 entries from the best surfers around New Zealand.  Spread across 21 divisions everyone will be out vying for prestigious titles.
Format:  Standard event format with four man heats and 50% progression in all 21 divisions. The finals in all divisions will be staged on Saturday the 14th of January.
Status:  The Hyundai National Surfing Championships is rated 5 Star on the Lion Red Pro Surfing Tour and sanctioned by Surfing New Zealand.  

Did you know:

Maz Quinn (Gis) is gunning for his fourth Open Men’s National title a feat only three other surfers in NZ have completed (Iain Buchanan, Wayne Parkes and Alan Byrne). 

Daniel Kereopa (Rag), despite winning four national series in the past five years is yet to win an Open Men’s national title. 

Jay Quinn (Gis) despite being New Zealand’s second highest rated surfer on the international stage is yet to win an Open Men’s title.  Jay has won U/14, U/16 and U/18 titles at the nationals. 

Michael Fitzharris (Gis) is going for his sixth Longboard title and heads into the event as one of the favourites to win and make a good start to the Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour. 

Lisa Hurunui (Gis) makes a return to the Nationals after having to contest international events for the past three years unable to attend the nationals. 

Defending Open and Junior Men’s Champion Richard Christie (Mahia) is unable to defend his title due to international commitments on the Australasian Pro Junior Series.  

Gisborne’s John Gisby is the holder of the most national titles with a whopping 23 to his name.  Now 52, Gisby still contests divisions with surfers seven years his junior. 

The only current title holder from the Northland Region is Billy Hale (Kaitaia) who won the Over 40s division at the Nationals which were held at Opunake this time last year.  

History: 

This will be only the third time the event has been staged in the Northland Region in its 43 year history.  The event was staged in Ahipara in 1998 and in Whangarei in 1981. The long left-hand point break that wraps around Shipwreck Bay is a world class wave. To  have the event staged in these types of waves allows New Zealand’s best surfers the ultimate proving ground. 

Along with Shipwreck Bay there are two other event locations at ‘The Bluff’ which is located half way up Ninety Mile Beach and also Rarawa Beach on the East Coast.  The three possible locations offer up the best of both worlds and ensure the competitors will contest the best conditions available. 

The National Championships is steeped in history and is far and away the most prestigious single event on the New Zealand Surfing Calendar.  Gathering the biggest field of surfers year upon year, the event when last held in Northland attracted 380 entrants.  Many of New Zealand’s top surfers staking a claim on the international stage travel back to New Zealand to compete at the event ensuring that the level of surfing is as good as it gets. 

Past Winners 

Set out below are the winners of key divisions since 2000. 

Open Men 

2000 – Maz Quinn (Gis)
2001 – Mark Dovey (Mnt)
2002 – Damon Gunness (Gis)
2003 – Blair Stewart (Gis)
2004 – Maz Quinn (Gis)
2005 – Richard Christie (Gis)

Open Women 

2000 – Lisa Hurunui (Gis)
2001 – Lisa Hurunui (Gis)
2002 – Holly Quinn (Gis)
2003 – Jess Terrill (Tara)
2004 – Airini Mason (Tara)
2005 – Jessica Santorik (Rag) 

Junior Men (U/18) 

2000 – Danny Carse (Dun)
2001 – Bobby Hansen (Gis)
2002 – Daniel Scott (WGM)
2003 – Oli Adams (Ahipara)
2004 – Nathan Welch (Gis)
2005 – Richard Christie (Gis) 

Open Longboard

2000 – Michael Fitzharris (Gis)
2001 – Cam Anderson (Mnt)
2002 – Michael Fitzharris (Gis)
2003 – Kelly Ryan (Gis))
2004 – Michael Fitzharris (Gis)
2005 – Michael Fitzharris (Gis) 

Complete lists of all National Champions are located on the Surfing New Zealand website under History – www.surfingnz.co.nz/history.htm. 

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Ben Kennings
benkennings@surfingnz.co.nz

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