Kiwi Surf Magazine

Sarah Mason beat the Champ

In a major upset kiwi wildcard Sarah Mason has knocked out reigning world champion Stephanie Gilmore and is through to the quater-finals of the ASP World Women's Tour event in New Zealand .
She will now face compatriot Paige Hareb in the first ever kiwi-on-kiwi heat in ASP tour history - men's or women's.
Needing a 6.7 on her last wave the pint-sized Mason showed paitence beyond her 15 years to score a 7.1 and carry the heat at Fitzroy Beach in New Plymouth.

Above: Sarah blazing

"Yeah, I was just like waiting for a wave so I could have a go at the score I needed and I was lucky enough a wave came through."
That wave came through within the last  minute of the heat and Mason showed her determination by pulling off a close-out re-entry manoeuvre which sealed the win.
Kocking Gilmore out of the contest was still sinking in shortly after the heat was completed.
"I'm just buzzing right now. I couldn't really believe what had just happened when I came up the beach."
Gilmore said that the 4-5ft beach break conditions had made wave selection difficult.
"Yeah, it was really tough out there . . . and hard to pick good waves.  I kinda let my guard down and underestimated the little tacker and Sarah scored a six," she said.
"Round three, to lose then is pretty hard to take but that is all part of it I guess."
Mason who earned a wildcard into the contest at the TSB Bank Women's Surf Festival in Taranaki when she won the NZ Women's Open has been in fantastic form all week.
She followed her Open win with the ASP Australasian Junior Pro title and won passage into the third round of the Dream Tour event via the elemination round or round two.
A former Taranaki resident paid tribute to the crowd gathered at festival headquarters at Fitzroy.
"It's just so cool hearing the cheering on the bank. I just can't wait til my next heat."
Not that the prospect of facing fellow kiwi Paige Hareb in phasing the youngster.

Above: Paige on fire.

"I'm just gonna surf the heat like any other." For her part, Hareb wasn't expecting any favours from her compatriot.
"Just like any wildcard, she's got nothing to lose. She'll be relaxed and trying to win."