2006 Quiksilver ISA World Junior Surfing Championships

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

Webcast   |   Scores/Results/Photos etc

Divers Takes Note Out Of Captains Book

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 10 May, 2006 : - - Rip Curl New Zealand Junior Surfing Team member Paco Divers (Sandy Bay) has taken a note out of his team captains’ book.  On day three of the Quiksilver International Surfing Association (ISA) World Junior Surfing Championships he convincingly won through to the last 24 surfers in under 16 boys division. 

Divers scored an impressive 15.27 to win his heat to be the only Kiwi under 16 boy left in the qualifying rounds.  The surf built throughout the day to range between 1.0m – 1.5m. Divers got off to a flyer scoring 7.5 points on his first wave only to be bettered later in the heat after scoring 7.77 on his second scoring ride.  He beat surfers from Japan, Peru and Spain. 

Divers will now face a tough ask coming up against two Australians in Owen Wright and Christopher Friend along with French surfer Pierre Laborde.  Divers’ was the highest placed New Zealand surfer in the same division at the 2005 World Junior Championships when he placed 22nd.

Unfortunately the remaining three Kiwi boys in the under 16s were not so lucky in their performances being eliminated to the repercharge rounds placing third in their heats.  However there was no time for ‘what ifs’ as the next repercharge round hit the water in the afternoon (Brazil time). 

First up was Sean Peggs (Tai) who surfed to a close second place to move through to the next round with a score of 12.40.  Next up was Ryan Hawker (Piha) who dominated his heat to post 13.17 bouncing back from a tough heat in the qualifying rounds where he came up against three of the top rated surfers.

Last in the water was the youngest team member of the New Zealand team, Johnnie Hicks (Gis).  Hicks’ was in second place after scoring a 6.5 point ride late in the heat but the last wave ridden by the Uruguayan surfer scored a 3.43 to push Hicks back to third and elimination from the event. 

Hicks will have learnt many valuable lessons including the requirement to have two good scoring rides at this level of competition.  With a further two years left in the under 16 boys division, big things are expected from the young guy.

On podium two the under 18 girls were in action with Mischa Davis (Piha) completing a top performance to win her heat over highly touted Australian surfer Sally Fitzgibbons, both surfers progressing to the third qualifying round.  Airini Mason (Gis) and Paige Hareb (Tara) also progressed to the third round placing second in their heats.  Wini Paul (Sandy Bay) was not required to surf today.

The next round for the girls sees some heavy hitting match ups with Mason and Davis drawing the same heat along with two French girls.  Hareb comes up against surfers from France, Brazil and South Africa.

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.

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 : Divers through to U16 last 24 for team NZ at ISA WJSC
# 4 : Coming soon  

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Ben Kennings
benkennings@surfingnz.co.nz

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