Quiksilver Maz Quinn King of the Groms

Surfing New Zealand
Makorori Gisborne New Zealand
20 - 21 March 2010

Makorori hosts blue skies and light winds

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 20 March, 2010 : - - Under the watchful eye of New Zealand’s most famous surfer Maz Quinn, New Zealand’s best junior surfers took to Makorori Beach on day one of the Quiksilver King of the Groms today. 

With the day dawning to clear blue skies and light winds, the solid 1.0m swell provided the perfect playground for the grommets to impress the event’s namesake.  And they did not disappoint going for broke in a bid to win the event which comes with a trip for two to France to compete in the international Quiksilver King of the Groms final later in the year.

Northland surfer Patxi Scott – Arrieta (Sandy Bay) was a standout from the first heat completing big power turns with flare.  His performances saw him move through to the semifinals with ease.

“I haven’t been doing anything different” commented Scott – Arrieta when asked about his excellent display of form. “The waves in ‘Gissy’ are always fun and a bit bigger so I like competing here.  Comps don’t always have good waves so it is good to surf in conditions like today”. 

“One more heat until the finals and then I can challenge for the trip to France, I would be stoked if I won that” added Scott Arrieta on what lies ahead on the final day of the event.

Josh Kettle (Tara) by his own admission caused somewhat of an upset to move through to the semifinals when he defeated current ratings leader Adam Grimson (Gis) and previous event finalist Korbin Hutchings (Gis) progressing alongside Jules Craft (Gis).

Kettle, the older of three brothers competing at the event was “really happy” with his performance and gaining a personal best result.  He is one of few surfers his age to continually ‘bust airs’ in his heats a strategy he often opts for “I use the airs to get through ‘cos all the other guys are so good.  You have to do something real good to beat them so it is all or nothing for me” said Kettle.

Other surfers to move through to the semifinals in first place included Dune Kennings (WGM) and Elliot Paerata – Reid (Piha).

Elliot Paerata - Reid (Piha) also dominated the early round of the Under 14 Boys throwing everything into his surfing.  Posting a 14.0 point heat total, it was glaringly obvious that Paerata – Reid was hunting a big result a point he noted post heat today.  “I haven’t had a good result for a while so I changed my game plan and went a bit bigger today” commented Paerata - Reid. 

“I am stoked with my heat scores, I have had two good heats so far and I am just going to try and get two good waves in my 16s quarters and then go for broke and hope I make it through”.  Paerata Reid did just that beating defending event champion Ben Poulter (Rag) in his quarterfinal.

Not to be outdone in the Under 14 Boys was young 12 year old Korbin Hutchings (Gis) posting the highest heat score of the round – 14.3 out of a possible 20.  Hutchings’ power and stability in the punchy beach break conditions was beyond his age as he went on to win his heat and move through to the semifinals.

Other heat winners in the Under 14 Boys Division included Dune Kennings (WGM) and Jordan Griffin (Mnt) the winners of the first two events of the Surfing New Zealand Grommet Series.

Ella Williams (WGM) attacked the Makorori waves in her Under 16 Girls Division heat posting a 12.75 point heat total.  Williams looked unstoppable completing several big backhand re-entries on the way to her heat win.  Likewise Jayda Martin - Fitzharris (Gis) was also in top form in the second semifinal winning with the same heat total as Williams. 

Martin – Fitzharris used her local knowledge to link several big turns into one wave for an 8.25 point ride.  The two will face off in the final along with Gabriela Sansom (Auck) and Hannah Kohn (Gis) to see who will win the trip to Australia to witness the 2011 Roxy Pro. 

The Under 12 Boys took on the challenge of the solid surf with Kehu Butler (Mnt), Manu Scott – Arrieta (Sandy Bay) and Travis Morton (Waihi Beach) all notching up heat wins to move through to the semifinals.

Please see below for results from day one of the Quiksilver Maz Quinn King of the Groms held at Makorori Beach today (Saturday 20th March).

Under 16 Boys Quarterfinals
Heat 1 Patxi Scott-Arietta (Sandy Bay), 1, Waretini Wano (Piha), 2, Peri Matenga (Mnt), 3, Manu Scott-Arrieta (Sandy Bay), 4
Heat 2 Josh Kettle (Tara), 1, Jules Craft (Gis), 2, Adam Grimson (Gis), 3, Korbin Hutchings (Gis), 4
Heat 3 Elliot Paerata - Reid (Piha), 1, Ben Poulter (Rag), 2, Fintan Cram (Whmata), 3, Mackenzie Christie (Tau), 4
Heat 4 Dune Kennings (Whmata), 1, Tane Wallis (Piha), 2, Sean Kettle (Tara), 3, Jayda Martin Fitzharris (Gis), 4

Under 14 Boys Quarterfinals
Heat 1 Elliot Paerata - Reid (Piha), 1, Isaac Kettle (Tara), 2, Manu Scott-Arrieta (Sandy Bay), 3, Isaiah Grace (Gis), 4
Heat 2 Dune Kennings (Whmata), 1, George Busby (Gis), 2, Thomas Dixon-Smith (Gis), 3, Sam Poulter (Rag), 4
Heat 3 Jordan Griffin (Mnt), 1, Caleb Braithwaite (Whtane), 2, Jack Virtue (Gis), 3
Heat 4 Korbin Hutchings (Gis), 1, Harrison Whiteside (ChCh), 2, Ben McCulloh (Gis), 3, Reuben Mottart (Gis), 4

Under 14 Boys Semifinals (to be surfed on Sunday)
Heat 1 Elliot Paerata - Reid (Piha), Isaac Kettle (Tara), Dune Kennings (Whmata), George Busby (Gis)
Heat 2 Jordan Griffin (Mnt), Caleb Braithwaite (Whtane), Korbin Hutchings (Gis), Harrison Whiteside (ChCh)

Under 12 Boys Quarterfinals
Heat 1 Kehu Butler (Arataki), 1, Isaac Kettle (Tara), 2, Thomas Dixon-Smith (Gis), 3, Reuben Mottart (Gis), 4
Heat 2 Manu Scott-Arrieta (Sandy Bay), 1, Ben McCulloch (Gis), 2, Rangi Moore (Gis), 3
Heat 3 Travis Morton (Waihi Bch), 1, Taine Craig Ranga (Waihi Bch), 2, Jonty Low (Gis), 3

Under 16 Girls Semifinals
Heat 1 Ella Williams (Whmata), 1, Hannah Kohn (Gis), 2, Dayna Story (Gis), 3
Heat 2 Jayda Martin-Fitzharris (Gis), 1, Gabriela Sansom (Auck), 2, Paige Penny (Gis), 3, Bianca Sansom (Auck), 4

Under 16 Girls Final (To be surfed on Sunday)
Ella Williams (Whmata), Hannah Kohn (Gis), Jayda Martin-Fitzharris (Gis), Gabriela Sansom (Auck)

Current leaders in the ‘Best’ awards are as follows:
Sticky Johnson Best Air – Elliot Paerata – Reid (Piha)
Surfers Skin Best Tube -  tbc
Surfers Skin Best Manoeuvre – Elliot Paerata – Reid (Piha)
Sequence Surf Shop Best Scoring Wave – 8.25 Ben Poulter (Rag) and Ella Williams (WGM)
Sequence Surf Shop Best Wipeout – Elliot Paerata – Reid (Piha)
New Wave Best Newcomer – tbc

New Zealand Surfing Magazine was also onboard all day shooting photos of the competitors.  Their talented staff will head back to the office to edit the images with each contestant receiving their own professionally edited shot to put on their wall courtesy of the magazine.

Event Sponsors: The Quiksilver Maz Quinn King of the Groms event is proudly sponsored by Quiksilver, Roxy, Jet Star, Xbox, Olympus, Macbeth, Surfers Skin, Skull Candy, Pro Lite, Sticky Johnson, New Wave and NZ Surfing Magazine.

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

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