Written by Ben Kennings, Surfing NZ. Thursday, 27 January 2011
The event marks the third of six on the 2010/11 SOL Series and the swell produced by the cyclone could provide some exceptional waves. However, the proof in the pudding will be how long the swell lasts.
The Billabong Pro presented by Sony will frequent Whangamata for the seventh straight year and is fast becoming an iconic summer event on Auckland Anniversary weekend. The event is the biggest and richest event on the 2010/11 SOL Series to date. Over $12,000 in prize money is up for grabs as well as amazing prizes from Pacific Blue and Sony.
The event includes the Open Men’s and Women’s Divisions as well as the Under 20 Men’s.
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| Jay Quinn – Image Cory / NZ Surfing Magazine |
Current SOL Surf Series ratings leader and number one seed, Jay Quinn (Gis), will be going for an unprecedented three wins from the first three events of the year. Quinn who has been concentrating on his international campaign, has returned to New Zealand and shocked his fellow countrymen winning the first event at his hometown of Gisborne and then less than two weeks ago he took out the national titles at Dunedin.
Quinn will be joined by other top Kiwi’s such as New Zealand’s highest ranked surfers internationally Richard Christie (65th) and Billy Stairmand (67th). The event has also attracted the attention of Raglan’s Luke Cederman who will be competing for the first time this year after concentrating on filming for the internationally renowned Innersection surfing DVD for the last half of 2010.
Other surfers to look out for will be the likes of Blair Stewart (Gis), Maz Quinn (Gis), Tim O’Connor and Keone Campbell (Tara) who fill the top five ratings spots behind Jay Quinn.
The Women’s Division will see a return to New Zealand by Wini Paul (ex Sandy Bay) who has been residing in Australia and recently won a massive kick start package of $25,000 to help her compete on the ASP World Tour in 2011. The 2008 New Zealand national champion will battle it out against the likes of Jessica Santorik (Rag) who has had a strangle hold on the SOL Surf Series over recent years and goes into this event as the number one seed.
The Under 20 Men’s Division will kick their year into action, the Billabong Pro presented by Sony being the first to take place. Piha surfer Tane Wallis goes into the event as the top seed and he will be challenged by the likes of 2011 Under 18 Boys National Champion Ben Poulter (Rag), JC Susan (Mnt) and Ryan Hawker (Piha).
The local surfers will be out to match it with the best. Gauranga Ormond, Matt Scorringe, Braedon Williams, Ella Williams and Grace Spiers will all be surfing throughout the three days of the event.
Defending champions are Maz Quinn (Gis) in the Open Men’s Division, Jessica Santorik (Rag) in the Open Women’s Division and Johnny Hicks (Gis) in the Under 20 Men’s Division who will be absent this weekend while competing in Australia.
The Billabong Pro presented by Sony will take place from 8.00am – 4.00am daily with the primary venue being at the northern end of the Esplanade.
Pacific Blue will be awarding a return airfare to anywhere in the South Pacific for the surfer who accumulates the highest heat score throughout the event. Sony will also be giving away a Playstation 3 to the surfer who completes the best move of the event.
Please see below for winners of the event over the past five years and the top rated surfers in the Open Men’s and Women’s Divisions on the SOL Surf Series.
Billabong Pro presented by Sony Past Champions
Open Men’s
2006 – Daniel Kereopa (Rag)
2007 – Daniel Kereopa (Rag)
2008 – Maz Quinn (Gis)
2009 – Bobby Hansen (Gis)
2010 – Maz Quinn (Gis)
Open Women’s
2006 – Jessica Santorik (Rag)
2007 – Jessica Santorik (Rag)
2008 – Jessica Santorik (Rag)
2009 – Laura Rishworth (Mnt)
2010 – Jessica Santorik (Rag)
Juniors
2006 – Kierin Van Der Helder (Rag)
2007 – Ryan Hawker (Piha)
2008 – Ryan Hawker (Piha)
2009 – Keone Campbell (Tara)
2010 – Johnny Hicks (Gis)
Open Men’s Division
1, Jay Quinn (Gis)
2, Blair Stewart (Gis)
3, Maz Quinn (Gis)
4, Tim O’Connor (Mnt)
5, Keone Campbell (Tara)
6, Tane Wallis (Piha)
7, Alex Dive (Mnt)
8, Jarred Hancox (Tara)
9, Nick White (Mnt)
10, Leon Santorik (Rag)
11, Sam Willis (Gis)
12, Tyler Lawson (H-Bay)
13, Luke Hughes (Rag)
14, Adam Grimson (Gis)
15, Morehu Roberts (Rag)
16, Ben Poulter (Rag)
Open Women’s Division
1, Jessica Santorik (Rag)
2, Ella Williams (Whmata)
3, Grace Spiers (Whmata)
4, Alexis Poulter (Rag)
5, Rosa Thompson (Auck)
5, Mischa Davis (Auck)