2007 Hyundai National Surfing Championships

Corona Crown Series and Hyundai Pro - Quiksilver King Of The Groms
Oakura, Taranaki, NZ
13 - 20 January 2007

Junior Surfers Make Start In Small Conditions

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 13 January, 2007 : - - Small conditions greeted competitors on day one of the Hyundai National Surfing Championships today (Saturday) and that meant that the junior age groups were sent out to compete.  The Breakers Under 18 and Under 14 Boys and the Quiksilver Under 16 Boys surfed their early rounds in surf little over 0.5m. 

The conditions at Back Beach, located just south of New Plymouth, made the surf contestable and some of New Zealand’s top young talent got their campaigns underway.  Top scorer for the day was Gisborne’s Buck Woods with a total of 13.0 in the Under 16s Division.  Contesting two divisions today Woods kept his chances alive in both divisions but not without risk. 

Woods was looking at elimination with only six minutes remaining in his heat until he changed strategies and caught two quick waves before the final hooter sounded – the highest being a good 7.0 point ride. 

Looking a little relieved after his heat Wood’s commented on the patience that was required out in the water to get the best waves “I was stressing a bit but there are bigger waves coming through every now and then and you have to make sure you get those waves. 

 I was lucky to get those two waves at the end and win the heat”.  When asked about the possibility of winning the trip and entry into Quiksilver’s King of the Groms international event in Durban it was evident that it was in the back of his mind “I am trying not to think about it too much. 

Guys like Johnny (Hicks), Matty (Hewitt) and Ryan (Hawker) when he makes it back from Aussie all surf good so it will be a big ask to come through and win this event but that is what I am here for” commented a quietly confident Woods. 

Both Johnny Hicks (Gis) and Matt Hewitt (Mnt) progressed through their heats today however Ryan Hawker’s heat was postponed until he returns back from international duties in Australia.  Other surfers to impress in the Under 16s were Jay Paddock (Gis) and local surfer Tyler Anderson.  Anderson posted 12.5 to convincingly win his heat and move through to the quarterfinals where he will face abovementioned Paddock and Kieran Pullman. 

With several of the top seeds still returning from Australia the Breakers Under 18 Boys division resembled a ‘mish-mash’ of completed heats and heats that were postponed.  Billy Stairmand (Rag) made the most of conditions to top score with 12.65 ahead of local surfer Nick Moses who progressed in second. 

Fellow local surfer Keone Campbell also progressed through to the quarterfinals winning his heat with a score of 10.9 out of a possible 20.  With a number of heats yet to run in the first round the quarterfinal heats are far from confirmed but these will be decided tomorrow (Sunday) once a number of the top seeds return from Australia and make their way to Hyundai Naitonal Championships. 

In the Breakers Under 14 Boys Tane Wallis (Piha) looked a dominant force as did young Patxi Scott-Arrieta (Whangarei) who won his heat with a top score of 11.50.  The smooth style of Patxi caught the eye of the judges in the final heat of the day and even though the incoming tide did it’s best to flatten the ocean, he managed to ride one particularly good ride of 7.0 out of 10 to move through to the last six surfers. 

The last surfer to move through to the semi final as a winner was Dune Kennings (WGM) who fought out the closest heat of the round to narrowly sneak through ahead of Northland’s Joe Morretti in second. 

Sunday is forecast to dawn with similar conditions however everyone is willing an earlier than predicted rise in the swell which is not meant to arrive until late Sunday.  A decision on venue and divisions to be contested on day two of the Hyundai National Championships will be made at 7.00am in the morning.  Details will be posted at the Oakura Boardriders on Messenger Terrace and also broadcast over The Most FM on 92.3.

The 2007 Hyundai National Surfing Championships are principally sponsored by Hyundai.  Further associate sponsors include Quiksilver, Breakers Bar and Café, Sirocco Surfboards, Opunake Surf Inn, NMD/Vertigo, Ocean and Earth and Hot Buttered. The event would not be possible without the support of the above sponsors as well as host club Oakura Boardriders and Surfing New Zealand.

Surfing New Zealand are proudly partnered by Corona, Vodafone, Hyundai, SPARC, Smokefree 

Previous reports:
# 1 : Hyundai National Surfing Championships going strong
# 2 : Coming soon
# 3 : Coming soon
# 4 : Coming soon  

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Ben Kennings
benkennings@surfingnz.co.nz

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