Tim O'Connor, Team New Zealand : photo Daniel Smorigo

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

Webcast   |   Scores/Results/Photos etc

(Scroll down for team reports)

CONDITIONS AND TOUGH COMPETITION TAKE THEIR TOLL ON NEW ZEALAND TEAM

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 13 May, 2006 : - - Five of the six remaining surfers in the Rip Curl New Zealand Junior Surfing Team were eliminated from the Quiksilver ISA World Junior Surfing Championships overnight as stormy conditions and the high level of competition took its toll on the team.  Under 18 surfer Airini Mason (Gis) is the only surfer remaining in the event after what team management called a “nightmare” of a day. 

Mason was not required to compete overnight but had to watch her team mates get eliminated one by one.  A huge storm past over the coastline damaging the contest site and it made conditions atrocious at the start of the day.  Both Richard Christie (Gis) and Paige Hareb (Tara) made promising starts when they progressed through their first heats.  Christie placed second in the closest of heats eliminating Australian Nick Vasicek by 0.03.  In his second heat things fell apart.  Christie placed fourth behind two dominant Brazilian surfers who were at the top of their game. Hareb won her first heat scoring 13.14 points but the waves didn’t come to the party in her second heat of the day.  With several minutes remaining in the heat Hareb required only a 3.18 but the ocean conspired against of her and that was the end of her campaign. 

Earlier Tim O’Connor (Mnt) challenged in his heat and was leading up until the final four minutes but was then relegated to fourth after the French and Brazilian surfers rode excellent late rides.  Both Mischa Davis (Piha) and Wini Paul (Sandy Bay) were eliminated in Repercharge Round 4 after also struggling with the conditions. 

After the days efforts, team management looked back on a difficult day where the team did not seem to get the rub of the green.  “When the conditions get tough we (Rip Curl New Zealand Surfing Team) always seem to struggle with the poor conditions, wave selection and losing critical paddling duels and today was no different” commented team manager Bruce Scott.  “We think it is perhaps a lack of growing up in a competitive, hassling surfing environment such as places like Australia, Brazil and USA where crowds are a lot more intense. It often appears that our surfers do not have that competitive hunger compared with the top surfers at these events” he commented further. 

New Zealand’s hopes now lie with Airini Mason in the girls division as well as the tag team event which pitches teams of five surfers from each team competing in a relay type format.  After today’s performance New Zealand will challenge for places 6-8 on the world rankings alongside the USA and Tahiti teams.  A lot will ride on the performance of Mason and how the other teams perform as to where the New Zealand team will finish come the end of the event. 

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 : Mason last Kiwi standing in qualifying rounds of WJSC
# 5 : Conditions & tough competition take toll on Kiwi Team

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Ben Kennings
benkennings@surfingnz.co.nz

Team news - Surfersvillage