VQS New Zealand Champs

VQS
Manu Bayu, Raglan New Zealand
18 April 2009

Volcom Stone’s VQS Totally Crustaceous Tour New Zealand Championships score

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 21 April, 2009 : - - This year’s New Zealand VQS Champs turned Raglan, one of the world’s best lefthand points, into a massive Hillbilly farm. The talent that made it out to compete was nothing short of amazing and with the perfect 4 to 5 foot waves that greeted us at Manu Bay we knew that this could be the best VQS in the 10-year history of the event.

With the sun shining and the perfect left handers on offer the competitors were chomping at the bit to get out there and show off their talent to the judges and the huge crowed lining the point.

First up were the Under-14 Grommets, then the Girls and straight after that the juniors and then the Pro Ams. With the consistent waves, every competitor that surfed came in with a smile from ear to ear and stoked that they got to surf perfect Raglan with only 3 other people out. As we started to reach the quarter finals, all 4 divisions were ripping the perfect waves to bits.

With surfers knowing that a New Zealand VQS title was on the line, they were pushing their surfing to the highest levels but it was one heat in particular that left the crowd on the point wanting more. Quarter final 1 in the Pro AM division was the best heat of the day, some say the best heat they have ever witnessed in the VQS history. That heat saw Luke Cederman, Billy Stairman, Mikey Bankes and Rangi Ormand pitted against each other.

Tane Wallis : photo courtesy Volcom

All four surfers were going blow for blow, almost every wave that these guys rode were scoring in the excellent range. Every turn they did was absolutely massive, they surfed each wave from start to finish with waves going for a couple of hundred meters and these guys doing 7 or 8 turns a wave.

It came down to a triple count back but it was Luke Cederman and Billy Stairman that got the nod from the judges. In the same heat Cederman took out the Electric Bolt Thrower Move of the day with a massive front side grab rail air and pocketed extra cash for doing so.
 
After the quarter finals had been completed it was time for the semi finals to hit the water. It seemed that this was the peak of the swell for the event with 5-foot sets not stoping throughout all the semi final heats.In all divisions throughout the semi finals, every surfer were getting massive scores -almost every competitor was getting 9 point rides knowing that they would have to do so to make the final.

It was now time for the finals. First up were the Grommets with Tane Wallis and Ben Poulter, both these grommets couldn’t believe they were surfing perfect Raglan with only one other guy out. With cheers from the onlooking crowed both groms were ripping, but it was Poulter that just edged out Wallis to take home the win.

Ben Poulter : photo courtesy Volcom

It wasn’t only the competitors that were enjoying the beautiful day but also all the parents and kids alike with all sorts fun and games for everyone being played up and down the point. We had sack races, hand stand competitions, 6-man wheel-barrow races and kids bobbing for apples, it was fun fun fun for everyone!!!

Next up in the girls division it was Jess Santorik and Laura Rishworth that were too good for the other competitors, and when they hit the water for the final it was spectacular. Both girls were tearing the perfect left-handers apart but it was Jess Santorik’s local knowledge that came into play and saw her on the better waves and gave her the win over Laura.

Straight up after the girls was the junior final with Alex Dive and Tyler Anderson relishing the perfect lefts that Manu Bay had to offer. With the crowd on the Point cheering on each wave these two guys were putting on a cracker show.

Both were scoring in the excellent range, the lead was changing with every wave ridden and in the final seconds it was Alex Dive the natural footer that picked up a perfect set wave, smashing it all the way down the point to take out the win from the goofy footer. Alex also picked himself up a ticket to the United States to compete in the World VQS Champs in May.

Manu Bay : photo courtesy Volcom

The last final of the day was the Pro Am division with two local surfers, Luke Hughes and Leon Santorik going head to head. In a 15-minute final, they knew that they were going to have to post massive scores to take home the winner’s trophy and a chance to represent their country in the World VQS finals in California. It was Leon Santorik that landed the first blow and picked up a perfect left-hander, smashing it all the way down the point to pick himself up a 8 point ride.

Hughes waited out the back patiently, he knew he had his work cut out for him, but when he took off on a cracker set wave and didn’t hold back, unleashing a series of beyond back hand vertical reo’s, he was awarded a near perfect 9-point ride from the judges. He knew he was back in the lead with 7 minutes remaining.

Leon knew he needed a decent wave to take it out and when he paddled into a bomb the crowd thought he might of taken out the win. With 3 massive backhand blasts he had another 8-point ride added to his heat total of 16. With only 3 minutes left in the final and Hughes knowing he needed better than a 7-point ride to take out the final, his patience paid off when a 5-foot set came straight to him. He knew if he surfed this wave well he would have it in the bag.

With the crowd on the point holding their breath he didn’t disappoint with 6 of the biggest turns all day. He picked himself up a near perfect 9.7 and also the winner’s trophy and the opportunity at a World VQS title to his name. After making the Final of the VQS 5 times Luke Hughes was ecstatic to finally have the prestigious title to his name In his winning speech Luke Hughes dedicated his fabulous win to his dad.

Well done to all the competitors and spectators alike. Huge thanks to the Raglan community and Raglan boardriders club for giving up Manu Bay for the day and Hambo for the the photo’s.  Both Luke Hughes and Alex Dive will be representing New Zealand in the VQS World Titles in Newport Beach on the 8th of May, they will be competing for $50,000 US Dollars in Cash and prizes.

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Red Bull
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Mountain Dew
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Girls
1st place Jess Santorik
2nd place Laura Rishworth
 
Groms
1st place Ben Poulter
2nd place Tane Wallis
 
Juniors
1st  place Alex Dive
2nd placeTyler Anderson
 
Pro Ams
1st place Luke Hughes
2nd place Leon Santorik

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VQS Contests - Surfersvillage