Written by Ben Kennings, Surfing NZ. Saturday, 16 March 2013
In near perfect conditions at the back up venue of Ruapuke Beach, south of Raglan, day two of the Rip Curl Pro presented by Nature Valley exploded into action with the final eight surfers found in the Open Men’s Division.
Today (Saturday 16th March) in solid 1.5m plus waves preened by offshore easterly winds, the best surfers in New Zealand put on an impressive display of high performance surfing mixed with big powerful turns and deep barrels.
None other than Gisborne’s Maz Quinn was the stand out of the day firstly eliminating Rip Curl guest and ex Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Tour surfer Taylor Knox (USA) scoring 17.83 in the quarterfinal then winning his semifinal to progress into the final day of the event.
“It’s been some of the best waves I have seen for a New Zealand comp” said Quinn post quarterfinals.
“My first heat I was getting barrelled every wave and then that heat just then was real nice shape with a lot of power so you could lay down some big hacks, it was pretty good” he added.
Quinn scored a perfect ten point ride for two big barrels on the one wave, only his second ten point ride competing in New Zealand. It was that wave that helped him progress to the quarterfinals alongside Tim O’Connor (Mnt). “Tim started off with a nine so we were on the back foot straight away but there were so many good waves and I happened to nab that ten which I am stoked with” said Quinn.
O’Connor completed a patented forehand nose-pick reverse late in the heat to edge out Taylor Knox (USA) 15.67 to Knox’s 15.37 and move through alongside Quinn.
Matt Hewitt (Mnt) was another stand out of the day surfing to the highest total heat score 19.4 out of a possible 20 points.
“It didn’t look too flash this morning but the tide rolled in and it got better and better and better and everyone just started to get barrelled in their heats, you can’t ask for much more than that in a comp” exclaimed Hewitt.
In his quarterfinal match up he again posted big scores to move through to the final with Dune Kennings (WGM) following in second place.
Hewitt has only been back in the country for three weeks. After contesting the first two events of the ASP World Qualifying Series in Australia, Hewitt will be off again next month for the Japanese leg of the series.
Evening up the odds for the goofy footers was Sean Peggs (Tai) who, late in the day, won his quarterfinal heat with a 17.17 point heat total including a 9.67 point ride for clean tube on the left.
“I got one rare left, actually wasn’t expecting it, but it lined up and I got a good barrel, it’s been a good day of surfing” said a happy Peggs.
“I don’t really know where my form is coming from because I have been living in Auckland and not surfing much so I am just stoked to be surfing and having fun” he added after also making the final of the National Championships earlier this year.
Peggs along with Chris Malone (Rag) and JC Susan (Mnt), who progressed in the last heat of the day, will relish the possibility of a move back to the primary venue of Manu Bay for the final day of the event if the swell picks up as forecast. “I love surfing Manu Bay, I lived here for a couple of years so to go back and surf Manu Bay for the final day will be awesome.”
Other surfers to move through to the semifinals included Zen Wallis (Piha) and Bachelor Tipene (Tara).
Defending event champion Bobby Hansen (Gis) was eliminated in the third round losing to Sean Peggs and Chris Malone meaning there will be a new New Zealand representative at the Rip Curl Padang Cup in Bali later this year. That person will come from the eight surfers remaining in the event, none of whom have won the invitation before.
See below for results from day two of the Rip Curl Pro presented by Nature Valley held at Ruapuke Beach south of Raglan today (Saturday 16th March).
Open Men’s Round 1
Heat 1
Brent Rasby (Gis), 9.5, 1, Josh Taylor (Mnt), 9.13, 2, Wade Lamond (Aust), 4.23, 3, Jason Damerel (Aust), N/S
Heat 2
Jarred Hancox (Tara), 10.23, 1, Matthew Daniel (Rag), 9.8, 2, Drew Dunn (Aust), 4.9, 3, Heath Thompson (Hawaii), N/S
Heat 3
Cain Aldridge (Tara), 8.13, 1, Manu Scott-Arietta (Sandy Bay), 7.0, 2, Daniel Judd (Aust), 4.6, 3, Mike Banks (Rag), N/S
Heat 4
Jayson Zimmerman (Waitara), 9.77, 1, Sam Mathers (Rag), 7.33, 2, Drew Everest (Aust), 7.03, 3, Chris Branch (Aust), 6.23, 4
Open Men’s Round 2
Heat 1
Tane Wallis (Piha), 14.17, 1, Luke Cederman (Rag), 11.1, 2, Jayson Zimmerman (Waitara), 8.47, 3, Jamie Andrews (Tara), 4.53, 4
Heat 2
Bachelor Tipene (Tara), 13.73, 1, Paco Divers (Sandy Bay), 12.37, 2, Sam Mathers (Rag), 6.3, 3, Kayne Duncan (Port Waikato), 4.6, 4
Heat 3
Brent Rasby (Gis), 10.17, 1, Jason Ruddell (Whngrei), 5.47, 2, William Cooper (Mnt), 3.93, 3, Waretini Wano (Piha), 3.43, 4
Heat 4
Tim O’Connor (Mnt), 14.43, 1, Sid West (Gt Barrier), 11.1, 2, Josh Taylor (Mnt), 9.63, 3, Paul Moretti (Mimiwhangata), 4.53, 4
Heat 5
Sean Peggs (Tairua), 11.5, 1, Larry Fisher (Rag), 11.37, 2, Matthew Daniel (Rag), 11.27, 3, Tyler Anderson (Tara), 8.1, 4
Heat 6
Buck Woods (Gis), 14.67, 1, Elliot Paerata Reid (Piha), 13.23, 2, Jarred Hancox (Tara), 10.17, 3, Nat Hughes (Rag), 6.63, 4
Heat 7
Ryan Hawker (Piha), 13.83, 1, Leon Santorik (Rag), 12.7, 2, McKenzie Bowden (Whmata), 11.47, 3, Mike Banks (Rag), 3.67, 4
Heat 8
Cain Aldridge (Tara), 10.87, 1, JC Susan (Mnt), 10.17, 2, Dillon Tarrant (Rag), 5.83, 3, Corey Asplin (Rag), 5.73, 4
Open Men’s Round 3
Heat 1
Dune Kennings (Whmata), 15.5, 1, Paco Divers (Sandy Bay), 14.17, 2, Tane Wallis (Piha), 12.43, 3, Deane Hishon (Rag), 8.1, 4
Heat 2
Matt-Lewis Hewitt (Mnt), 19.4, 1, Bachelor Tipene (Tara), 16.63, 2, Luke Cederman (Rag), 15.27, 3, Jules Craft (Gis), 7.73, 4
Heat 3
Paul Moretti (Mimiwhangata), 13.53, 1, Alex Dive (Mnt), 12.83, 2, Brent Rasby (Gis), 9.17, 3, Ben Kennings (Whmata), 4.33, 4
Heat 4
Maz Quinn (Gis), 17.83, 1, Tim O’Connor (Mnt), 15.67, 2, Taylor Knox (USA), 15.37, 3, Jason Ruddell (Whngrei), 4.87, 4
Heat 5
Sean Peggs (Tairua), 15.33, 1, Chris Malone (Gis), 12.2, 2, Elliot Paerata Reid (Piha), 8.97, 3, Bobby Hansen (Gis), 8.93, 4
Heat 6
Zen Wallis (Piha), 13.7, 1, Luke Hughes (Rag), 12.57, 2, Larry Fisher (Rag), 9.8, 3, Buck Woods (Gis), 8.93, 4
Heat 7
JC Susan (Mnt), 15.53, 1, Ryan Hawker (Piha), 10.33, 2, Sean Kettle (Tara), 10.2, 3, Mackenzie Christie, 9.33, 4
Heat 8
Ben Poulter (Rag), 10.8, 1, Leon Santorik (Rag), 9.8, 2, Cain Aldridge (Tara), 9.6, 3, Levi Stewart (Waihi Bch), 4.6, 4
Open Men’s Quarterfinals
Heat 1
Matt-Lewis Hewitt (Mnt), 12.67, 1, Dune Kennings (Whmata), 10.07, 2, Tim O’Connor (Mnt), 9.37, 3, Alex Dive (Mnt), 7.03, 4
Heat 2
Maz Quinn (Gis), 15.0, 1, Bachelor Tipene (Tara), 13.0, 2, Paco Divers (Sandy Bay), 12.8, 3, Paul Moretti (Mimiwhangata), 11.77, 4
Heat 3
Sean Peggs (Tairua), 17.17, 1, Zen Wallis (Piha), 13.23, 2, Ryan Hawker (Piha), 12.6, 3, Leon Santorik (Rag), 11.5, 4
Heat 4
Chris Malone (Gis), 10.67, 1, JC Susan (Mnt), 10.37, 2, Ben Poulter (Rag), 7.73, 3, Luke Hughes (Rag), 7.23, 4
Complete event write ups, results, surfer ratings and images from the event can be viewed at Surfing New Zealand.