Surfing NZ
The Rip Curl Pro at Manu Bay Raglan, presented by Galbraith’s, is set to be the first New Zealand surfing event to be broadcast live to television today Sunday 17th April.
The event is being held on the iconic Kiwi point break of Manu Bay, Raglan from 15th – 17th April. The final day of the event will be brought to TV screens around New Zealand by Sky Sport and Garage TV, airing on the surfing pop-up channel 56.
The event is set to feature the country’s top surfers led by current ratings leader and defending champion Maz Quinn (Gis) in the Open Men’s Division and current National Champion Ella Williams (WGM) in the Open Women’s Division.
Taranaki surfer Paige Hareb will make her first competitive appearance at a domestic level since she qualified for the World Tour in 2009.
The event has attracted over 130 entries from New Zealand surfers as well as several internationals from Hawaii, USA, Italy and South Africa including Pat Curren, son of three time world champion Tom Curren.
Despite being the number one seed for the event, Quinn is yet to win an event in 2016 but this weekend could be a turning point for the Gisborne surfer. In 2015 he went on a tear winning three straight events during Autumn which led to him securing the overall rankings for 2015.
Standing in Quinn’s way will be Billy Stairmand (Rag). Stairmand has some down time before he heads back offshore to contest the World Qualifying Series in two weeks’ time in Indonesia. Stairmnad won the National Championships held in Dunedin during January beating fellow Raglan surfer, good mate and personal shaper Luke Hughes in the final. A win this weekend will see Stairmand take the ratings lead back from Quinn with only two events remaining this year.
Being the richest event of the year, the Rip Curl Pro presented by Galbraiths has attracted a number of top surfers back to the competitive arena including the likes of Matt Hewitt (Mnt), Buck Woods (Mnt), Luke Cederman (Rag), Alex Dive (Mnt), JC Susan (Dun) and Paul Moretti (Mimiwhangata) making for a talent-filled draw.
While Ella Williams and Paige Hareb will be star features in the Women’s Division, this event sees the return of Jessica Santorik and Kelly Murphy, both ex-New Zealand representatives who are returning to competition after having their first children. The two surfers have dined out at Manu Bay their entire lives and are lethal when they are in form.
Whangamata surfer Grace Spiers also makes a return to the competitive arena after 18 months out with injury.
The Under 20 Boys Division sees a massive draw of surfers which will be led by the return of defending champion Elliot Paerata – Reid (Piha). Paerata – Reid has been competing in Australia on the World Qualifying Series all summer but returns to New Zealand this week to contest the event in both the Under 20 Boys and Open Men’s Divisions.
Paerata – Reid is joined by Dune Kennings (WGM) who took two late wins this summer, ratings leader Callum Chuter (TGA) and local surfer Taylor Hutchison (Rag) who has found himself in the runner-up position in the three events he has contested this year.
The Rip Curl Pro presented by Galbraiths boasts a $10,000 cash prize pool.
The event caters to the best surfers in New Zealand in both the Open Men’s and Women’s Divisions as well as the juniors on the rise in the Under 20 Boys Division.
Action will take place between 8am – 4pm across the three days. The swell is expected ease throughout the week with a 1.0m swell and variable winds set to kick off the event.
On Friday night from 7pm – 10pm, a movie night presented by Garage TV will take place behind the Rip Curl Raglan store on the main street. Seating and bean bags will be provided for everyone to relax and watch surfing on the big outdoors screen.
The Rip Curl Pro presented by Galbraiths also includes the all-time Saturday night gathering at the YOT Club thanks to Galbraiths. This year’s entertainment includes People of Paris and Hot Sets.
Please see below for current ratings after two of five events on the New Zealand Pro Series.
Open Men’s Division
1, Maz Quinn (Gis)
2, JC Susan (Dun)
3, Billy Stairmand (Rag)
4, Luke Hughes (Rag)
5, Luca Brunotti (Dun)|
6, Luke Murphy (Dun)
7, Jack Wilson (Chch)
8, Harrison Whiteside (ChCh)
9, Matt-Lewis Hewitt (Mnt)
9, Daniel Farr (Tara)
Open Women’s Division
1, Ella Williams (Whmata)
2, Britt Kindred (Mur)
3, Kea Smith (Mnt)
4, Elin Tawahru (Mnt)
5, Janee Armstrong (Chch)
Under 20 Boys Division
1, Callum Chuter (Tau)
2, Jack Wilson (Chch)
3, Harrison Whiteside (ChCh)
4, Taylor Hutchison (Rag)
5, Andrew Fraser – MacKenzie (Tau)
Complete event write ups, results, surfer ratings and images from the event can be viewed at Surfing New Zealand.