Kierin Van Der Helder : photo courtesy NZ Surfing Magazine

Event #2 of Red Lion Pro Surfing Tour
Manu Bay, raglan
10 - 12 February 2006

Day One - Full results here

Furious Action & High Scores at the Rip Curl Pro - Day One

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 10 February, 2006 : - - While many anticipated the action in tonights Rip Curl expression session to be held under lights at Manu Bay, a huge day of preliminary heat were held in the main event.  Rounds 1 – 3 of the Open Men and Round 1 of the Junior Men were completed.

Late in the afternoon the Open men hit the water for Round three and top apart the glassy 1.0m waves that were remaining after yesterdays raw swell had subsided.  Locals showed everyone how it was done with the likes of Jarrod Toomey (Rag) who scored 15.75 including an excellent 9.0 point ride. 

Not to be out done fellow local surfers Luke Hughes and Zennor Wernham thrived in the conditions to post heat wins.  Both Wernham and Hughes will be looking to progress through another round tomorrow to seal their top 16 berth.  Brent Rasby had a come from behind win on his last wave to post a total heat score of 14.0.

Taranaki surfer Jayson Zimmerman dominated his heats from round one to move through three rounds scoring 14.75 in his last heat with a 7.5 and a 7.25 for his best two waves.  AJ Matthews (WGM) scorched through two heats on his way to the last 32 surfers posting 13.75 in his last heat of the day to win out over a resurgent Mac Moore (Auck) who pipped Ryan Hawker (Piha) for second.  Luke Harwood (WGM) blazed heat eight, the last of the day to the highest heat score of the day, 16.75 out of a possible 20.

Round one of the juniors featured a number of potential New Zealand junior reps who got their day in the sun prior to meeting up with the top seeded surfers such as Dean Amess (WGM), Kierin Van Der Helder (Rag), Luke Hughes (Rag), Billy Stairmand (Rag) and Ryan Hawker (Piha).  The youngsters put on a good show with Tyler Anderson (Tara) top scoring with an impressive 15.5. 

Anderson is one of twelve surfers who were asked to come to Raglan to compete in front of the New Zealand selectors and he surely took his chance.  Tomorrow (Saturday) he will come up against abovementioned Van Der Helder who flew back from Australia to contest the event.  Other potential representatives to progress in first place included Stefan White (WGM), Buck Woods (Gis), Braedon Williams (WGM) and Oliver Bone (Sandy Bay).

The surfers for the Rip Curl Expression Session were named today (See below).  The surfers will be surfing for a one off best move with the winner receiving a crisp $500 for their efforts.  The night surfing will take place at 9pm tonight with two semi finals and a final.  All action can be witnessed on the live feed through www.surf.co.nz. 

Damon Gunness
Keirin Van Der Helder
Pac Divers
Brent Rasby
Hayden Brain
AJ Matthews
Blair Stewart
Daniel Kereopa
Justin Souter
Luke Cederman
Mark Dovey
Leon Santorik
Jarrod Toomey
Billy Stairmand
Zennor Wernham 

The 2006 Rip Curl Pro is sponsored by Rip Curl and Lion Red. The event would be not possible without the support of Surfing New Zealand and Point Boardriders. Surfing New Zealand are proudly partnered by Lion Red, Vodafone, Hyundai, SPARC, Smokefree.

www.surfingnz.co.nz

Previous reports:
# 1 : Night surfing to light up the Rip Curl Pro at Manu Bay
# 2 : Coming soon
# 3 : Coming soon
# 4 : Coming soon  

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Ben Kennings
benkennings@surfingnz.co.nz

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