2007 Hyundai National Surfing Championships

Corona Crown Series and Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour – event two
Oakura, Taranaki, NZ
13 - 20 January 2007

Maz Quinn Shows His Hand in the Semifinals

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 18 January, 2007 : - -  Today Maz Quinn showed his full hand of cards winning what everyone was claiming the best heat of the event to date.  With the win, Quinn moves through to the final in the Open Men’s division of the Hyundai National Surfing Championships remaining on target to take his fifth national title. 

Quinn’s semifinal was as good as it gets in terms of high performance.  Raglan’s Leon Santorik opened up the twenty minute heat with an amazing 8.0 point ride completing the tightest forehand turns.  Then without hesitation he snatched a wave from under his competitor’s noses and scored his highest ride of 8.5 and took a commanding lead. 

The two favoured surfers Quinn and Richard Christie had their work cut out but the heat was by no means over.  Quinn posted a 7.25 before unleashing on the Stent Road line up with three of the biggest turns of the event to score 9.5 and take the lead.  “Leon (Santoik) paddled around me for his best wave so I made a big tactical error at the start. 

 Then I ‘stole’ my best wave off him to score that 9.5 so in a way I got my own back” commented Quinn on his best ride.  “I didn’t hear the scores being read out at the start of the heat so I wasn’t aware of my position or the pressure I was under prior to that wave, this probably worked in my favour” he added when questioned about the early lead Santorik held.

Richard Christie (Mah) had a slow start to the heat falling on a couple of waves before getting stuck into his work.  First he posted a 7.10 to climb back into contention and the race was on with four minutes remaining.  Needing a 9.41 to progress Christie exploded with the most innovative manoeuvre of the event – a powerful frontside re-entry busting out above the lip and coming straight back down onto the wave. 

The complete wave scored 9.35, agonisingly close but not enough to progress.  As the form surfer of the event many thought Christie could have gone all the way but the polished performance of Quinn and the ‘heat of a lifetime’ Santorik completed blew out those hopes.  Raglan’s Zennor Wernham placed fourth in the heat with a credible 13.25 point heat score.

The second semifinal had a lot to live up to and while it was not as explosive as the first semifinal the heat was surfed down to the wire with 1.25 points separating first from fourth.  Less consistent waves hampered the heat but it was Daniel Kereopa (Rag) and Motu Mataa (Tara) that pushed through to the final both scoring strongly with 13.75 total heat scores. 

Kereopa was selective opting to surf only two waves, the same amount that he surfed in his quarterfinal.  The tactic is clear with Kereopa realising that the only way he can win his first national title is by catching the best waves available.  The two surfers eliminated the event dark horse and local standout Simon Deken (Tara) and junior finalist Billy Stairmand (Rag). 

Earlier in the day the Hyundai Open Women relished the chance to surf perfect Stent Road in their semifinal heats.  Leon Santorik obviously got the inspiration for his performance after younger sister Jessica was the first to advance into the final four surfers of the women.  Santorik scored 16.60 in her heat with a number of radical top turns on her less favoured backhand. 

Sandy Bay’s Wini Paul moved through to the final in a close second place scoring 15.5 taking a liking to the righthanders.  Daisy Thomas continued her excellent form winning the second semifinal ahead of local favourite Paige Hareb.  Thomas scored 14.75 in her heat with smooth surfing, linking big turns and floaters right down the point.  Hareb placed second close behind with a top scoring ride of 7.25 compared with Thomas’ 8.00 to eliminate Kara Stephenson and Thandi Durham (Tara).

The finalists were found in the Hyundai longboard division this afternoon with local powerhouse Jason Matthews advancing in first place ahead of defending champion Michael Fitzharris (Gis).  Matthews scored 13.50 compared with 13.00 from Fitzharris.  Matthews is a previous national champion in the division having won the event in 1994. 

After the second semifinal Fitzharris became the sole surfer in the final that permanently rides a longboard when Jay Quinn (Gis) and Daniel Kereopa (Rag) won out over Thomas Kibblewhite (Auck) and Ant McColl (Mnt). 

Quinn scored the highest heat score of the event with 18.0.  His performance was highlighted by the second perfect ten point ride of the event when he smashed a wave to bits more like he was surfing his shorter board.  Kereopa was not far behind scoring 16.75 for his total heat score.

The forecast for Friday is not looking as good as the past five days with a decrease in swell and westerly quarter winds predicted.  An official decision on venue and divisions to be contested on day five 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.

Hyundai Open Men Semifinals
Heat 1 Maz Quinn (Gis), 1, Leon Santorik (Rag), 2, Richard Christie (Mahia), 3, Zennor Wernham (Rag), 4,
Heat 2 Daniel Kereopa (Rag), 1, Motu Mataa (Tara), 2, Simon Deken (Tara), 3, Billy Stairmand (Rag), 4

Hyundai Open Men Finals (Yet to be surfed)
Maz Quinn (Gis), Leon Santorik (Rag), Daniel Kereopa (Rag), Motu Mataa (Tara)

Hyundai Over 40s Semifinals
Heat 1 Billy Hale (Kait), 1, Dano Waiwiri (Waitara), 2, Glen Shuker (ChCh), 3,
Heat 2 Jason Matthews (Tara), 1, Seth Matthews (Tara), 2, Pete Shafer (Tara), 3 

Hyundai Over 40s Finals (Yet to be surfed)
Billy Hale (Kait), Dano Waiwiri (Waitara), Jason Matthews (Tara), Seth Matthews (Tara) 

Hyundai Over 45s Semifinals
Heat 1 John Gisby (Gis), 1, David Stork (Piha), 2, Bendan Young (HBay), 3, Rupert Newbold (Whan), 4
Heat 2 John Lovell (Tara), 1, Rod Welch (Gis), 2, Mike Trainer (Hbay), 3

Hyundai Over 45s Finals (Yet to be surfed)
John Gisby (Gis), David Stork (Piha), John Lovell (Tara), Rod Welch (Gis)

Hyundai Over 50s Quarterfinals
Heat 1 David Stork (Piha), 1, Greg Page (Tara), 2, Rod Welch (Gis), 3, Frank Harris (Tara), 4
Heat 2 John Gisby (Gis), 1, Barry MacColloch (Tai), 2, Ruepert Newbold (Whan), 3, Eddie Rare (Gis), 4
Heat 3 Chris Davies (Oakura), 1, Ross Moodie (Gis), 2, Paul Atkin (Kaitaia), 3, Ray Hawthorne (Gis), 4,

Hyundai Over 50s Semifinals (Yet to be surfed)
Heat 1 David Stork (Piha), 1, Barry MacColloch (Tai), Ross Moodie (Gis)
Heat 2 John Gisby (Gis), Greg Page (Tara), Chris Davies (Oakura) 

Hyundai Open Women Semifinals
Heat 1 Wini Paul (Sandy Bay), 2, Jessica Santorik (Rag), 1, Angie Koops (Kaik), 3, Claire Thomson (Gis), 4
Heat 2 Daisy Thomas (ChCh), 1, Paige Hareb (Tara), 2, Kara Stephenson (Rag), 3, Thandi Durham (Tara), 4

Hyundai Open Women Finals (Yet to be surfed)
Wini Paul (Sandy Bay), Jessica Santorik (Rag), Daisy Thomas (ChCh), Paige Hareb (Tara) 

Sirocco Surfboards Under 16 Girls Quarterfinals
Heat 1 Jayda Fitzharris (Gis), 1, Nicola Colson-Koster (Auck), 2, Lucy Brankin (Tara), 3, Annie Stuart (Auck), 4
Heat 2 Grace Spiers (WGM), 1, Demi Poynter (Auck), 2, Maddy Phillips (Auck), 3
Heat 3 India Wray Murane (Muriwai), 1, Yjosina Barry (Rag), 2, Mikayla Zandstra (Tauranga), 3, Crystal Hale (Kaitaia), 4

Sirocco Surfboards Under 16 Girls Semifinals (Yet to be surfed)
Heat 1 Jayda Fitzharris (Gis), Demi Poynter (Auck), Yjosina Barry (Rag)
Heat 2 Grace Spiers (WGM), Nicola Colson-Koster (Auck), India Wray Murane (Muriwai) 

Hyundai Open Longboard Semifinals
Heat 1 Jason Matthews (Waitara), 1, Michael Fitzharris (Gis), 2, Trent Lillis (Auck), 3, Dylan Barnfield (Ohope), 4
Heat 2 Jay Quinn (Gis), 1, Daniel Kereopa (Rag), 2, Thomas Kibblewhite (Auck), 3, Ant McColl (Mnt), 4 

Hyundai Open Longboard Finals (Yet to be surfed)
Heat 1 Jason Matthews (Waitara), Michael Fitzharris (Gis), Jay Quinn (Gis), Daniel Kereopa (Rag) 

NMD/Vertigo Open Bodyboard Quarterfinals (Yet to be surfed)
Heat 1 Richard McKenna, Jeff King (Auck), Shane Peterson, Harlem Kirton (Piha)
Heat 2 Jarad Ferris (Gis), Vanja Spiric, Steve Abraham (Opotiki)
Heat 3 Floyd Smith (Piha), Ahipene Newby (Gis), Ben Mckinnon, Andrew Lowe (Dun)

Ocean and Earth Women Bodyboard Final (Yet to be surfed)
Sarena Ball, Melanie McElwee, Andrea Willets (Tara), Erica Cussack, Poppy Chapman

NMD/ Vertigo Dropknee Bodyboard Final (Yet to be surfed)
Sam Peters, Paul Adams (Tara), Jarad Ferris (Gis), Shane Petersen 

Hot Buttered Under 18 Bodyboard (Yet to be surfed)
Heat 1 Steve Abraham, Luke Elliot (Mnt), Daniel Willets (Tara)
Heat 2 Harlem Kirton (Piha), Max Clifford, Nick Hollings (Auck), Piri Kirton (Piha)

The Surfing New Zealand website has a behind the scenes look at the event in the official Hyundai Nationals event blog at surfingnz.co.nz.  Be sure to check it out. 

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 : Hyundai National Champs: Juniors start off in small surf
# 3 : Longboarders style at Hyundai National Surfing Champs
# 4 : Men's division fires at Hyundai National Championships 
# 5 : Quinn Brothers rock Hyundai National Surfing Champs
# 5 : Hyundai National Champs: Christie steady in Open Men

www.surfingnz.co.nz.

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Ben Kennings
benkennings@surfingnz.co.nz

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