Ben Poulter – Image Cory / ISA
The Rip Curl New Zealand Junior Surfing Team was up against stiff competition and challenging conditions on day one of the 2010 Quiksilver ISA World Junior Surfing Championships held at Piha Beach, Auckland on Thursday (21 January 2010). The team managed a 50% win rate in both the Under 18 and Under 16 Boys divisions.
Ben Poulter kicked into gear quickly in conditions that were not dissimilar to that of the New Zealand team training camp in November. With some massive backhand turns, Poulter scored 11.00 out of a possible 20 points to win his first round heat defeating surfers from USA, Indonesia and Argentina. He will now face off against one of the favourites of the event Matt Banting (AUS).
Poulter was the highest placed New Zealand surfer in the Under 16 Boys Division in 2009 placing 19th.
Alex Dive, Johnny Hicks and Tane Wallis all placed second in their respective heats to move through to the second round. Wallis, surfing on home soil, looked particularly impressive completing several big turns and using his local knowledge to find the best Piha had to offer.
Kiwi surfers to be demoted into the repercharge rounds included Blake Myers, JC Susan, Elliot Paerata – Reid and Adam Grimson. Myers and Susan lost to surfers from Brazil and Spain while Paerata – Reid and Grimson lost to surfers from USA and Indonesia.
Press Release: Surfing New Zealand
| Written by Ben Kennings | |
| Thursday, 21 January 2010 |