2006 Quiksilver ISA World Junior Surfing Championships

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

Webcast   |   Scores/Results/Photos etc

Team Captain Christie Leads The Way For Team New Zealand

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 8 May, 2006 : - - The Rip Curl New Zealand Junior Surfing Team was spurred on by a strong captain’s performance from Richard Christie (Gis) on day two of the Quiksilver International Surfing Association (ISA) World Junior Surfing Championships.

Christie won his second round heat to move through to the last 24 surfers of the Under 18 Boys division.  In doing so, Christie was the only Kiwi boy to move through the qualifying rounds.

Christie posted 12.27 points out of a possible 20 to win his heat after riding a good wave late in the heat to move from second into first place.  Judges were impressed with Christie’s ability to produce big turns particularly on his best wave of 7.17 out of 10. 

Christie will now face Casey Brown (Haw), Trevor Sanders (USA) and Adrien Toyon (France) in the next round.  Christie will want to progress further and improve on his eighth placing he secured at the same event last year.

Both Tim O’Connor (Mnt) and Billy Stairmand (Rag) lost their second round heats in the closest of battles placing third by less than 0.10 points to surfers from Australia and USA. 

Stairmand led for much of his heat before being pushed back to third and was unable to get the 3.96 required to progress.  Both surfers will now have the arduous task of surfing through the repercharge rounds along with an injured Kierin Van Der Helder (Rag) who placed fourth in his heat.

The Under 18 girls got their campaigns underway with Airini Mason (ex Gis), Mischa Davis (Piha) and Paige Hareb (Tara) all progressing through to the second round.  Unfortunately Wini Paul (Sandy Bay) was relegated to the repercharge rounds after placing third in her first heat.

The Under 16 boys surfed on the first day of the event with success right across the board.  All four surfers progressed to the second round which will be contested on Wednesday (New Zealand time).  Most notable of performances was the win by Sandy Bay surfer Paco Divers who beat surfers from France, Chile and Canada. 

Action on Wednesday will include Under 16 Boys round two with all four surfers in action followed by repercharge round two.  Round two of the Under 18 girls will also be in the water featuring Mason, Davis and Hareb.

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.

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 seven countries will compete at the event in 2006.

The tour would not be possible without the support of Rip Curl, New Zealand Community Trust, Pub Charity, Surf Tubes and Sticky Bumps wax. 

www.surfingnz.co.nz

Team New Zealand reports
# 1 : New Zealand Juniors set to take on the world in Brazil
# 2 : Captain Christie leads the way for team New Zealand
# 3 : Coming soon
# 4 : Coming soon  

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Ben Kennings
benkennings@surfingnz.co.nz

Team news - Surfersvillage