Billabong Pro

Corona Crown Series Event 3
Whangamata, NZ
26 - 28 January 2008

Quinn Wins – Extends His Lead at Billabong Pro

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 28 January, 2008 : - - Maz Quinn of Gisborne won the Billabong Pro to secure his second win on the 2007/08 Corona Crown Series.  The event, held at Whangamata, enjoyed clean 1.0m conditions and Quinn saved his best surfing for the final day eventually taking down Raglan surfer Zennor Wernham in the man-on-man final.

“It was pretty hard out there…I mean there were good waves but we were pretty much dodging them.  I ended up getting two good ones so I am pretty happy” commented Quinn.  “Zennor took down Jay (Quinn) and then Bobby (Hansen) so I was hoping that wasn’t going to happen to me as well” Quinn said almost in relief that Wernham didn’t make it a threepeat of Gisborne surfers.

Quinn posted 14.25 points in the final which was cemented by a 7.75 midway through the final.  Quinn had utilised his priority to catch a set wave that he had to pull out of when it sectioned.  He was fortunate that Wernham was caught on the inside which allowed him to catch the very next wave and perform two huge turns including an aerial on the closeout section.

Second placed Wernham had stormed through the preliminary finals disposing of Jay Quinn in the quarterfinals and then Bobby Hansen in the semifinals.  Wernham looked to be in sync all day and surfed with speed and flow to be rewarded with big scores.  In the final he posted 13.50 points and was in the hunt after scoring a 6.90 point ride at the three quarter mark.  Wernham eventually required a 9.41 point ride to win and the large score proved to much to conquer.

Mischa Davis : photo NZ Surfing Magazine

Wernham’s result comes on the back of a fourth placing at the national champs only a week a go and elevates him to second on the Corona Crown Series behind Quinn. Placing third equal today were Bobby Hansen (Gis) and Jeremy Evans (HBay).  Hansen could not find the bigger set waves in his semifinal scoring 11.80 to Wernham’s 14.65.

Evans had an excellent run of form competing in his first event of the series this year.  Evans beat Leon Santorik (Rag) earlier in the day but was then eliminated by Quinn scoring 11.10 to Quinn’s 16.0.

Mischa Davis (Piha) made a welcome return to the winners podium taking out the Open Women’s Division.  Davis has spent much of the past three years competing on the Australasian Pro Junior Series.  Now ineligible for the series which caters for surfers under 20, Davis has decided to return home to focus on her education and compete in domestic surfing events. 

Davis scored an 8.0 point ride early in the heat and lead from the outset.  A 6.0 point ride late in the final made her lead all the more challenging for the other four competitors.  “I haven’t won a comp for a long time so I am really happy to come home and win” commented Davis “I was nervous at the start but then I got a small wave and it walled up really well so I figured that was the way to go for the rest of the heat”.

Raglan’s Jess Santorik placed second in the final scoring 12.50 after looking solid all weekend.  Santorik will be happy with her result which closes the gap on ratings leader Daisy Thomas (Chch) who today finished in third place ahead of Laura Rishworth (Mnt) in fourth.  Davis’ win elevates her to third on the ratings relegating Rishworth to fourth.

Keone Campbell (Tara) took a crowd pleasing win in the Under 18 Boys Division.  Campbell opened his scoring account with a 6.75 on his first wave but that was just the start.  He then went on to post several small scores before ‘going to town’ on his last two rides to post consecutive scores of 8.0 and 7.15.

“On my best ride the wave just happened to link up perfectly.  “I got a good reo and then went straight into a fast floater and good link onto the inside so everything happened real easy” commented Campbell.  “I had a shocker at the Nationals so it is good to get the year back on track and surf well, especially in the small stuff today which is sometimes a little harder to ride for me”.

Second placed surfer Johnny Hicks (Gis) also scored highly posting an 8.0 point ride on one wave but could not match Campbell posting a 5.25 for his second scoring ride.  Hicks moves into second place on the ratings after today’s result pushing Sean Peggs (Tairua) into second after he finished fourth today.  Campbell now sits in third place with Michael Mallalieu (Tara) in fourth.  Mallalieu placed third today scoring 11.35 points.

Billabong Pro – Event 3 of 6 on the Corona Crown Series

Billabong Open Men Finals
Maz Quinn (Gis), 1, Zennor Wernham (Rag), 2

Billabong Open Men Semifinals
Heat 1 Maz Quinn (Gis), 1, Jeremy Evans (HBay), 2
Heat 2 Zennor Wernham (Rag), 1, Bobby Hansen (Gis), 2,

Billabong Open Men Quarterfinals
Heat 1 Jeremy Evans (HBay), 1, Leon Santorik (Rag), 2
Heat 2 Maz Quinn (Gis), 1, Dru Adler (Aus), 2
Heat 3 Bobby Hansen (Gis), 1, Blair Stewart (Gis), 2
Heat 4 Zennor Wernham (Rag), 1 Jay Quinn (Gis), 2

Billabong Under 18 Men Finals
Keone Campbell (Tara), 1, Johnny Hicks (Gis), 2, Michael Mallalieu (Tara), 3, Sean Peggs (Tairua), 4

Billabong Under 18 Men Semifinals
Heat 1 Sean Peggs (Tairua), 1, Michael Mallalieu (Tara), 2, Braedon Williams (Whmata), 3, Adam Cranston (Gis), 4
Heat 2 Keone Campbell (Tara), 1, Johnny Hicks (Gis), 2, Buck Woods (Gis), 3, Matt Hewitt (Mnt), 4

Billabong Open Women Finals
Mischa Davis (Auck), 1, Jessica Santorik (Rag), 2, Daisy Thomas (ChCh), 3, Laura Rishworth (Mnt), 4

Billabong Open Women Semifinals
Heat 1 Mischa Davis (Auck), 1, Jessica Santorik (Rag), 2, Rosa Thompson (Auck), 3, Alexis Poulter (Rag), 4
Heat 2 Daisy Thomas (ChCh), 1, Laura Rishworth (Mnt), 2, Angie Koops (Kaik), 3, Kara Stephenson (Rag), 4

Billabong Open Women Quarterfinals
Heat 1 Rosa Thompson (Auck), 1, Kara Stephenson (Rag), 2, Bronte Mannix (Tara), 3, Nicola Colson-Koster (Auck), 4
Heat 2 Daisy Thomas (ChCh), 1, Mischa Davis (Auck), 2, Grace Spiers (WGM), 3, Michelle Langdon (Mnt), 4
Heat 3 Jessica Santorik (Rag), 1, Angie Koops (Kaik), 2, Thandi Durham (Tara), 3, Anna Hadfield (Mnt), 4
Heat 4 Laura Rishworth (Mnt), 1, Alexis Poulter (Rag), 2, Ella Williams (Whmata), 3, Pipi Sopp, (WGM), 4

Check the Video Highlights

Previous reports:
# 1 : Day 1 of Billabong Pro cut short due to bad conditions
# 2 : Billabong Pro Whangamata, NZ dominated by Gisborne

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