2006 Quiksilver ISA World Junior Surfing Championships

International Surfing Association
Maresias, Brazil.
6 - 14 May 2006

New Zealand Juniors Set To Take On The World

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 3 May, 2006 : - - The Rip Curl New Zealand Junior Surfing Team flew out to Brazil yesterday to contest the Quiksilver International Surfing Association (ISA) World Junior Surfing Championships.  The event takes place from the 6th – 14th of May at Maresias Beach, Brazil. 

The twelve-strong team are aiming to better their seventh placing they achieved last year when the event was held at Huntington Beach, California, USA. This year the New Zealand team have several standout performers that we can expect to see big things from. 

Richard Christie (Gisborne) placed eighth at last years event and his powerful style should see him place higher this year if things go his way.  Christie has been contesting the Australasian Pro Junior Tour this year against the best teenage surfers in the world.  Recently he came back to New Zealand to contest the Smokefree National Scholastic Surfing Championships where he placed second to Tim O’Connor (BOP) – also a member of the New Zealand team.

Airini Mason who now resides in Australia but a Kiwi through and through is another surfer to watch.  Mason has already won the Australasian Pro Junior Tour for 2006 with an event to spare – the first New Zealand female to accomplish this feat.  At the age of 16, Mason has been touted as the best female surfer to come out of New Zealand.  She will want to improve on her 19th placing last year and also her best result at the event to date – a ninth in 2004.

Two Under 16 Boys surfers standout in the New Zealand team and their competitive rivalry in New Zealand will turn to team support in Brazil as Ryan Hawker (Piha) and Paco Divers (Sandy Bay) fight it out side by side with the world’s best.  Both surfers were selected for last year’s team but Hawker tragically broke his foot while surfing just weeks out from the event. 

Ultimately Hawker was replaced in the team and missed his chance but is back in 2006.  With a further year remaining in the under 16s division, the young surfer will want to stamp some authority on the event and build toward a big performance in 2007. 

Paco Divers did compete at Huntington Beach where he was the highest placed New Zealand surfer in the Under 16s at 22nd=.  Divers’ has shown vast improvements in his surfing this year and will want to make sure he finishes in the elite pack of surfers at the top end of the event come finals day. 

Prior to the main event the team will meet South Africa to contest the annually run ‘SANZ’ Trophy held between the two teams.  This year also sees an invitation made to Japan to contest the event.  The three teams will fine tune their competitive strategies only days out from the main event while igniting old friendships and meeting new faces. 

The unique trophy that is up for grabs is made out of a solid Pounamu base with paua inlay and a surfboard made out of South African hardwood.  New Zealand currently holds the trophy after taking it off the South Africans in 2005. 

The Rip Curl New Zealand team is as follows

Under 18 Boys
Kierin Van Der Helder - Raglan
Richard Christie – Gisborne
Billy Stairmand – Raglan
Tim O’Connor – Mount Maunganui 

Under 18 Women
Airini Mason – Gisborne
Mischa Davis – Piha
Paige Hareb – Taranaki
Wini Paul – Sandy Bay 

Under 16 Boys
Paco Divers – Sandy Bay
Ryan Hawker – Piha
Sean Peggs – Tairua
Johnny Hicks - Gisborne 

The World Junior Surfing Championships is an annual event having been held since 2003.  New Zealand has competed at the event since its inception as well as competing at the World Grommet Titles as it was formerly known since 1989. 

New Zealand has been one of the top nations at each event with Jay Quinn (Gis) securing New Zealand’s first World Championship in the Under 18 Men’s division in 2001.  New Zealand has placed 7th at the last two World Junior Championships.  A record twenty eight countries will compete at the event in 2006. 

www.surfingnz.co.nz

Team New Zealand reports
# 1 : New Zealand Juniors set to take on the world in Brazil
# 2 : Coming soon
# 3 : Coming soon
# 4 : Coming soon  

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Ben Kennings
benkennings@surfingnz.co.nz

Team news - Surfersvillage