A great day for New Zealand surfing with Sarah Mason winning the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Billabong Pro Junior Women’s at Manu Bay Raglan defeating her older sister Airini Mason in a high scoring final. Sarah’s third wave in the final was an outstanding and decisive 9 point ride with final scores of Sarah Mason on 16 to Airini Mason on 11.25.
Today’s result sees the talented sisters, Sarah 15 and Airini 20 years of age, now comprehensively leading the ASP Australasian Pro Junior Series ratings with Sarah first and Airini in second.
“So stoked to win today” said Sarah Mason.
“It’s always good to come back home and compete where I started my surfing life and the waves throughout this event have been really good.
“Surfing against my sister in the final was a little hard, but who ever won it was a good result for the both of us and it feels great right now.
“I’m excited to lead to the ratings and with only three events remaining this season I’m going to really do my best and try and win the ratings.”
Sarah has been on a roll over the past month with outstanding results coming in her country of birth firstly by winning the TSB Bank Pro Junior in Taranaki followed by her huge round three win at the ASP World Tour event where she defeated current World Champion Stephanie Gilmore and today’s victory caps off an incredible run.
“It’s all happened fast and I guess it gives me a lot of confidence.
“I began this season simply aiming to get experience on the Pro Junior circuit for the coming seasons but I’ve changed my goals now – Winning the series and qualifying for the ASP World Junior Title Series in Bali and Sydney are my focus now.”
The top two rated surfers on the Australasian Pro Junior Series will qualify for the ASP World Junior Title Series which is made up of two events that run in Bali in October and Sydney next January to determine an ultimate ASP World Junior Champion.
Right now Sarah and Airini hold those first and second positions on the ratings and both will be keen to take a unique sister qualification.
Pro Junior Men’s round of 16 also ran in excellent conditions today as winds abated and high scores were posted across all heats.
New Zealand surfers again stood out with Mount Mauganui’s Alex Dive revelling in familiar waters by taking a powerful heat win over Sam Wrench (AUS) who also progressed to the quarter finals in second place.
“The waves are amazing this morning “ said 18 year old Dive.
“The wind is really lining conditions up so you can score big out there and that was a great heat win for me.
“Making the quarter finals is already the best I have ever done in an Australasian Pro Junior event and I feel confident I can go further here, especially if the waves are good again tomorrow.”
Dive scored an excellent 8.75 out of a possible 10 in his heat win today excelling in the conditions and along with Davey Cathels (AUS), Sean Peggs (NZ) , Ty Watson (AUS) and Ryan Callinan (AUS).
Tomorrow’s quarter finals will begin at Manu Bay around 8:00am with the final expected to run around 11:30am with conditions again expected to be excellent.
Monster wave of the day went to Sarah Mason’s 9 point ride in the final!
Media Release: APC Australia Written by Steve Robertson, 15 May 2010
One thought on “Sarah Mason wins Billabong Pro Junior in all New Zealand Final at Manu Bay Raglan”