Hyundai National Champs
Presented by Quiksilver

Surfing New Zealand
Piha Beach, Auckland
10 - 17 January 2009

Opening Day Perfection At Hyundai National Champs

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 10 January, 2009 : - - The opening day of the Hyundai National Surfing Championships presented by Quiksilver played host to near perfect conditions at Piha Beach today with a clean 1.5m – 2.0m swell that the Open Men’s surfers relished the chance to compete in.

The come back of Daniel Kereopa (Rag) took place over three heats today with Kereopa winning twice and placing second once.  His surfing included two near perfect nine point rides (out of a possible 10). Kereopa went into semi retirement in 2007 after winning the National Champs and opted to compete solely on the Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour.

Commenting after his heat Kereopa showed some uncharacteristic nerves but was happy with his performances all the same. “Nerve racking, really really nervous today” commented Kereopa.  “But it was nice to have good waves and show everyone that I can still cut it with the best of them”.

Unfazed by his low scoring second placing in round 3 which he put down to “a change in tide and hence conditions”, Kereopa is now looking forward to Round 4 where he has drawn the events number one seed Maz Quinn (Gis).

 
Ryan Hawker : photo Cory/NZ Surfing Magazine

“I think it is quite funny coming up against Maz so early, it was always going to happen if I made it through my heats and you have to be able to beat the best if you want to win the event, I am excited”.  Kereopa will also face Nick White (Mnt) and Dane Simpson (Gis) in the same heat which is scheduled to take place on Sunday.

The huge tides changed conditions drastically throughout the day and it was the local surfers that best adapted to the conditions.  17 year old Piha surfer Ryan Hawker surfed to the highest heat score of the day – 17.25 out of a possible 20.  Hawker progressed through the third round alongside fellow Auckland surfer Rowan Aish (Mur).  Hawker now meets up with defending champion Jay Quinn (Gis) in Round 4.

The highest single wave score of the day went to Tane Wallis (Piha) with a 9.5 point ride for several big backhand turns.  Wallis defeated his older brother Zen in the heat.  “Pretty surprised” said Wallis of his 9.5 point ride “It was more the quality of the wave that got me the high score, I just helped the wave get a good score really” added a modest Wallis.

Wallis is an up and coming surfer who will also compete in the Under 16 and Under 18 Boys divisions at the event this week.  Wallis is aiming to be included in the New Zealand Junior Surfing Team that is being announced post national champs.

Other surfers that impressed on day one were Dan Scott (WGM), Sean Peggs (Tai), Danny Carse (Mah), Blake Myers (WGM), felix Dickson (Dun) and Paco Divers who all won their third round heats.

The Hyundai National Championships presented by Quiksilver are being held at Piha Beach, Auckland from the 10th – 17th of January.  The event marks the second of six events on the 2008/09 Corona Crown Series and also the second event on the 2009 Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour.

Complete lists of all National Champions are located on the Surfing New Zealand website under History – www.surfingnz.co.nz. File images to accompany this media release are available from Surfing New Zealand upon request and are supplied by New Zealand Surfing Magazine.  The event will be run in association with Lion Rock Boardriders Club.

Event Hotline: The Surfing New Zealand event hotline is 0211134506.  This will be updated daily at approximately 7am with venue, divisions contested and conditions. Official Nationals Blog: Check out the official Hyundai National Surfing Championships presented by Quiksilver blog Here.

Additional Information: For more information on the event please contact Ben Kennings on  07 825 0018  or  021 2278732  or benkennings@surfingnz.co.nz.  Alternatively contact Greg Townsend on  021 372146  or surfingnz@xtra.co.nz.

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

Previous reports:
# 1 : Piha will host Hyundai National Champs by Quiksilver
# 2 : Excellent surf on tap for NZ's Hyundai National Champs
# 3 : Coming soon
# 4 : Coming soon  

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Ben Kennings

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