Open Women Make Their Mark at the 46th annual Hyundai National Surfing Championships

The women’s division of the Hyundai National Championships Presented by Quiksilver finally made their mark on the event today (Thursday 17th Jan) in clean 1.0m waves at Gisborne’s Makorori Beach. Two South Island surfers dominated the proceedings and look likely to go all the way to the final and challenge for the national title currently held by the absent Wini Paul (Sandy Bay).

Kaikoura surfer Angie Koops blasted her way to a 14.5 point heat total in her quarterfinal match up today. Koops is currently based in Australia where she has been working and surfing Queensland’s best waves. Today after making a trip back to her homeland specifically for the event she looked to have upped the ante with her surfing and showed a huge amount of pace and good flow in between big turns.

Her 14.5 point heat total included a 9.0 point ride for one righthander that she ‘smacked’ all the way to the beach. Koops could only back up her best wave with an average 5.50 point ride but that was enough to win her heat over Raglan surfer Jessica Santorik.

Another South Island surfer to shine was Daisy Thomas from Christchurch. Thomas has already secured a national title this week by winning the Women’s Longboard Division. Today in her preferred discipline on he shortboard she posted a great 12.00 heat total to beat Rosa Thompson (Auck), Thandi Durham (Tara) and Sherene Lobb. Thomas surfed to a pair of 6.0 point rides looking particularly good on her forehand with some tight radical pocket turns.

Other surfers to also win their heats included Piha surfer Mischa Davis and Raglan surfer Alexis Poulter. Earlier Poulter contested the final in the under 16 girls division and won an almighty close battle with arch rival Rosa Thompson (Auck). Poulter came out on top although it was Thompson who rode to the highest single scoring ride of 9.0 point ride.

However Poulter held her nerve and her consistency paid off with an excellent 8.0 point ride and a good 6.0 point ride to win with 14.0 points to Thompson’s 13.50. Local Gisborne surfer Jayda Fitzharris finished the final in third place with Ella Williams (WGM) finishing in fourth.

In a shock elimination in the longboard quarterfinals, defending champion Daniel Kereopa (Rag) was eliminated from the event incurring an interference call to finish third in his heat. Kereopa was only contesting this one division at the event and his elimination clearly dented his confidence. His elimination has opened up the division to a number of contenders as well as tightening up the ratings race on the Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour.

Australian based surfer Trent Dickey top scored in the round with 14.0 points to win his heat alongside other heat winners Thomas Kibblewhite (Auck), Sam Guthrie (Mnt) and Dylan Barnfield (Ohope).

The under 18 men were in the water early in the day contesting the quarterfinals. Standouts included the Gisborne duo and best friends Johnny Hicks and Buck Woods. Hicks surfed to a 14.75 point heat total – the highest in the round. His forehand surfing has been exceptional all week and today he went one step closer to taking double titles given that he has already qualified for the Quiksilver King of the Groms Under 16 Boys Division final.

Woods got his heat off to the best possible start with a 7.0 point ride but then played the waiting game. It almost backfired when the ocean continued to remain quiet. It required Woods to change strategy and catch some smaller waves to build his scoreline ultimately finishing with 12.75 points. Other heat winners included Michael Mallalieu (Tara) and Alex Dive (Mnt).

The second final of the day was the youngest division of the event – the Under 14 Boys. It was one way traffic from early on when Tane Wallis (Piha) first scored an excellent 8.0 point ride only better it with the events first perfect ten point ride. Wallis was a clear standout in the event and his technical approach and strategy proved far too much for his younger competitors.

The fight for runner up was on until the final hooter sounded and it was Dune Kennings (WGM) with his last scoring ride of 5.5 points that moved into second ahead of Paul Moretti (Mimiwhangata) in third and Kahu Craig Te Ranga (Waihi Beach) in fourth.

The swell is expected to rise significantly for day seven of the event. The increase in swell is likely to be accompanied by strengthening onshore winds. Approximately ten hours of surfing are required to complete the Hyundai National Surfing Championships presented by Quiksilver. A decision on the location and order of events for the penultimate day of the event, day seven, will be made at 7am on Friday morning.

Open Women Quarterfinals
Heat 1 Alexis Poulter (Piha), 1, Michelle Langdon (Mnt), 2, Katrina Baty (Gis), 3, Sherene McCormick (Napier), 4
Heat 2 Daisy Thomas (ChCh), 1, Rosa Thompson (Akl), 2, Thandi Durham (Tara), 3, Sherne Lobb, 4
Heat 3 Angie Koops (Kaik), 1, Jessica Santorik (Rag), 2, Kara Stephenson (Rag), 3, Ella Williams (Whmata), 4
Heat 4 Mischa Davis (Auck), 1, Laura Rishworth (Mnt), 2, Nicola Colson-Koster (Auck), 3, Zoe White (Napier), 4

Under 18 Boys Quarterfinals
Heat 1 Johnny Hicks (Gis), 1, Sean Peggs (Tairua), 2, Tyler Anderson (Tara), 3, Todd Hale (Nortlnd), N/S,
Heat 2 Michael Mallalieu, Tara, 1, Adam Cranston, (Gis), 2, John Courian (Mnt), 3, Joshua Curtis (Tau), 4
Heat 3 Buck Woods, (Gis), 1, Joe Moretti (Mimiwhangata), 2, Braedon Williams (Whmata), 3, Travis McCoy (Tau), 4
Heat 4 Alex Dive (Mnt), 1, Robert Courian (Mnt), 2, Tane Wallis (Piha), 3, Ben Poulter (Rag), 4

Open Longboard Quarterfinals
Heat 1 Thomas Kibblewhite (Auck), 1, Michael Fitzharris (Gis), 2, Kirk Beyer, (Wgtn), 3, Emanuele Lai (Auck), 4
Heat 2 Trent Dickey (Auck), 1, Kelly Ryan (Gis), 2, Daniel Kereopa (Rag), 3, Leon Santorik (Rag), 4
Heat 3 Sam Guthrie (Mnt), 1, Duncan Cameron, (Mnt), 2, Daniel Proctor (Gis), 3,, Jay Reeve (Mnt), 4
Heat 4 Dylan Barnfield (Ohope), 1, Jay Quinn (Gis), 2, Ant McColl, (Mnt), 3, Aidan Comrie, (Waihi Bch), 4

Over 28 Men Quarterfinals
Heat 1 Sam Johnson (Gis), 1, Larry Fisher (Piha), 2,Dave Van Staden (Rag), 3, Clint Daly (Gis), 4
Heat 2 Damon Gunness (Gis), 1, Ben Kennings (Rag), 2, Matt Hishon (Rag), 3, Jason Green (Gis), 4
Heat 3 Chris Malone (Gis), 1, Motu Mataa (Tara), 2, Matt Groube (Coro), 3, Andrew Robinson (Auck), 4
Heat 4 Mark Dovey (Mnt), 1, Reuben Woods (Gis), 2, Blair Stewart (Gis), 3, Rick Lasch (Piha), N/S

Under 14 Boys Finals
Tane Wallis (Piha), 1, Dune Kennings (Whmata), 2, Paul Moretti (Mimiwhangta), 3, Kahu Craig Te Ranga (Waihi Bch), 4

Under 16 Girls Finals
Rosa Thompson (Auck), 2, Ellla Williams (Whmata), 4, Alexis Poulter (Piha), 1, Jayda Fitzharris (Gis), 3

Over 50 Men’s Semifinal
Heat 1 Rod Welch (Gis), 1, John Gisby (Gis), 2, Chris Ransley (Gis), 3, Roger Strahl, 4
Heat 2 Barry MacCulloch (Tairua), 1, Gary Stevenson (Gis), 2, Larry Foster Gis), 3, David Storck (Piha), 4