Current SOL Surf Series ratings leader Jay Quinn (Gis) is set to miss the final event of the series opening the door for his opponents at this weekend’s SOL Super 16 event to be held at Raglan on Sunday (3rd April).
Quinn has international commitments competing at the Margaret River Masters Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Prime event in Western Australia.
After winning three of the four domestic events he contested this summer and placing runner up in the fourth, he locked down a lead that appeared impossible to bridge. However Quinn missed the Rip Curl Pro in Raglan held in the middle of March and narrowly misses this final event, flying out for Australia a day before the event along with travelling companions Billy Stairmand and Richard Christie.
The absence of the three surfers, the only three to win events this summer, paves the way for an unlikely comeback from Maz Quinn (Gis) who could secure his fourth straight series win with a good result this weekend.
Quinn placed 17th at the most recent O’Neill Cold Water Classic ASP six star event staged at Gisborne last week – the richest event to ever reach the shores of New Zealand.
His recent form could prove ominous for his opponents at the final event on Sunday.
Quinn’s biggest rival is Tim O’Connor (Mnt) who is currently ranked second on the SOL Surf Series. The Mount Maunganui surfer is raring to go this weekend and keen to have a crack at taking his first domestic series. It would be no surprise to see O’Connor in top form at Manu Bay this weekend, a break he has had success at – most recently winning the Auahi Kore Maori Titles back in October 2010.
The race for the title is by no means a two horse race with the top 13 seeds all in with a mathematical chance of winning the series.
The round robin format also provides ample opportunity for the surfers to perform, each surfer getting three heats before the top eight are determined for the semifinals and finals.
Young Ella Williams (WGM) has a comfortable lead in the Women’s Division and can seal the win by placing second or better on Sunday. A win this weekend would be a first at national level for Williams who has surfed to four finals berths this summer.
Should Williams place third or lower, then it would be up to fellow Whangamata surfer Grace Spiers to win the event for any chance of Williams seeing her title aspirations disappear.
Please see below for the first round match ups set to commence on Sunday morning (3rd April).
Open Men’s Round Robin 1
Heat one
Tim O’Connor (Mnt), Tane Wallis (Piha), Nick White (Mnt), Hayden Brain (Chch)
Heat two
Leon Santorik (Rag), Luke Hughes (Rag), Chris Malone (Gis), Ryan Hawker (Piha)
Heat three
Blair Stewart (Gis), Keone Campbell (Tara), Ben Kennings (Whmata), Zen Wallis (Piha)
Heat four
Maz Quinn (Gis), Jarred Hancox (Tara), Morehu Roberts (Rag), Adam Grimson (Gis)
Open Women’s Round 1
Ella Williams (WGM), Grace Spiers (WGM), Jessica Santorik (Rag), Alexis Poulter (Rag)