Hello web-land readers, I'm at the computer with the live feed from the Billabong Pro in Brazil streaming thru and trying to get this article wrapped up and sent to Millett to load up on the web before it becomes obsolete! But I digress..
The Super 16 was the official close to the entire Export Gold Series and as such it was only the best of the best that had made the cut and been invited to compete.
Most events are open to whoever wishes to attend and compete for the status and cash but the Super 16 is an invite only affair with the top seeds only filling the two day draw.
Also the event has a round-robin format and includes two tag-team format events, one being a Nth Isld vs Sth Isld contest and the other consisting of an Inter-club.
Fri 23rd delivered lumpy,bumpy 2-4ft of very average surf but with the cream of NZ surf assembled on the Piha shores it was game on regardless.
The trialists were out to earn their place in the main round and with sudden death heats, of the four surfers paddling out only two progress through. The heat was on in the cool waters.
Standouts in the heats and those to make the grade were Bobby Hansen, Ryza Hawker, Alex Dive and Blair Stewart. Blairs' power surfing again being a major factor in his progression and Bobbys' flair and flow being the difference for him as he locked down the highest heat total in his second heat with a combo of scores equalling 15.4 outta 20.0.
With the ladies it was young Ella Williams who showed the judges and spectators she has what it takes to be at the top level of female surfing in NZ. She won two of the three trials heats to advance and in doing so, ousted the likes of recently crowned National title holder, Laura Rishworth, in the process. Good work from the grom, her surfing getting stronger and smoother with every comp.
The righthand reform seemed to be the best of the worst and was the optimum peak for the comp on Day 1 but a few gambled on surfing the infamous Piha Bar when, as the tides changed, it showed some form.
The Interclub was an hour long heat in which a team of 5 surfers have to catch two scoring waves each out of a maximum of three they can catch, and all scores get added together to give a team total!
Sound messy and complicated. It can be. But the teams that did the job to advance into the Final on Day 2 were Bay Boardriders and Whangamata Boardriders winning their semi finals. Also to sneak thru were Point Boardriders from Raglan and the crew from Gisborne Boardriders. Thats alot of surfboard riders!
Enoughs enough, day done and we were off to the surf club for a tasty kai and maybe a cold export or two..
Day 2. Another day of similar 1.0mtr swell, choppy and crumbly with the wind greeted us at daylight and made we wish I'd slept in and had another cuppa but alas, we had the comp to run and were pretty keen to beat the sun glare that hits the west coast in the arvos.
Today was all about the top seeds and everyone was out to claim the title. From the very start of the day surfers like Luke Hughes and Nick White showed why they deserved to be amongst those left in the comp with a display of strong surfing. Maz Quinn started off slow but kept making heats til later in the rounds when he got knocked but due to his seed and accumulated points had enough to still make the final.
With Alex Dive, Nick White and Hughesy keen to steal the crown from Mazs' grasp it was an action packed final. Maz again crusing to start but with only minutes left he found the best wave that had rolled through in the final and decimated it for a 8.75, a combination of critical backhand turns. He then backed it up with what at first looked to be a small lumpy righthander that actually doubled up and Maz threw down a HUGE turn and backed it up with another to score a 7.0 and take the final, the event win, and the Export Gold Series win! A champion effort from a true champion of NZ surfing. Legend.
Luke Hughes blew me away with his style and power but just couldn't find the waves. Divey and Nick struggled to finish turns and waves and were left chasing big scores as the heat ran away from them, unlucky lads.
The Ladies final was a two girl affair and it was Jess Santorik and Rosa Thompson left to battle it out for winners honors.
Rosa started the heat well, her first year in the Open Womens grade being a great success thus far, and had Jess rattled and worried she had alot of catching up to do.
The two traded the lead back and forth but in the last minute Jess had a wave come to her, and as she stroked into it, it was to be the heat decider. She nailed the first turn and landed a long, critical floater and scored a 6.10. That score giving her a commanding lead and stealing the trophy from Rosa. Jess, the overall series winner for her second year in a row. The standout female surfer from Raglan now heads off to Europe to compete on the wqs with her confidence at an all time high! Congratulations and good luck Jess.
The Sth Isld vs Nth Isld tag-team event was an upset with the crew from down south winning it in an unusual way. It was a close call and at heats end all thought the Nth Isld surfers had it in the bag but a certain Nth Isld surfer had ridden an extra wave and in doing so incurred a 5 point penalty for his team. DOH!! That was enough to swing the scales and the Southerners claimed the cash and title by less than 3 points!
In the interclub event it was the Bay Boardriders from the Mount who took the victory and cleaned up the others in the final. Gizzy in 2nd, Raglan 3rd and the vocal Whangamata in 4th. Tough luck Bennie K. Sorry mate..
A great spectacle of NZ surfing, especially considering the less than ideal conditions at Pooha. A big thanks to Surfing NZ, Export Gold and Hyundai. Also a personal thanks to Chonnie for the cuppa and couch, thanks again!
sea you next summer..Gav.
n.b. chur to Quiksilver for the textiles and Odyssey 20/20 for the glare defenders. sweet!
© 2011 Kiwi Surf Magazine | Competitions Terms and Conditions | Privacy | Contact | Subscribe | Rules of this Site
