Paerata — Reid Crowned King of the New Zealand Groms

Piha surfer Elliot Paerata - Reid was crowned Under 16 Boys Division champion at Maz Quinn's Quiksilver King of the Groms held at Wainui Beach today (Sunday 20th March) after snatching the win in the dying stages of the final to defend the title he won in 2010.

Paerata - Reid won himself a trip for two to France and a chance to represent New Zealand in the International Quiksilver King of the Groms Final which plays host to the best grommets around the world.

(Wainui beach can produce some great quality waves, have a look at these photos of Waunui beach from the Corona surf comp back in '09.)

"For me, this is the biggest event of the year with the trip to France for first prize, there is so much on the line" said Paerata - Reid. "I loved France last year, the waves pumped and the food was nice. Now I get to go back and meet up with all the friends I made last year, I can't wait" he added.

Paerata - Reid dominated the final that was played out in clean 1.0m waves at Pines on Wainui Beach.

Despite the tide dropping out during the day, Paerata - Reid used his patience to win the final by surfing the two highest scoring rides. He opened his account early with a 5.3 point ride for two big backhand turns however found himself trailing eventual runner up Paul Moretti (Mimiwhangata) for most of the heat after that.

Moretti sat on a low 9.3 point heat total but looked to blow the final apart with a big air reverse that he could not quite manage to ride out of. Shortly after that the pack of four finalists split with Paerata - Reid heading south and the other three surfers heading north hassling each other. Paerata - Reid had the pick of the waves from then on and sure enough a nice peeling set wave came through which he paddled into and smashed to the beach on his backhand scoring 7.17 finishing with an exuberant claim knowing what he had just achieved.

"We were all sitting together and Dad directed me down the beach away from the others and then that wave came through and yeah, I got the score" explained Paerata - Reid of the late stages of the final that secured him his first win of the year.
"This is the best week of my life. I found out on Tuesday that I am in the New Zealand team and going to the World Junior Champs in Peru and five days later I win a trip to France."

It was a hard pill to swallow for Moretti who let another final slip out of his grasp. Moretti is yet to win a final in this age group despite appearing in numerous finals.

Local surfer Jules Craft placed third in the final and was another surfer not without his chances catching some of the best waves during the 25 minutes but falling at critical moments. Whangamata surfer Dune Kennings finished in fourth place.

The rise of Dayna Story (Gis) continued today with an impressive win in the Roxy Under 16 Girls Division final. In a low scoring affair, Story took down the more favoured Jayda Martin Fitzharris, also of Gisborne, a surfer who has helped Story rise through the ranks this year.

"I can't believe I won, I am so stoked and I am so excited to be able to go to Australia next year for the Roxy Pro and watch all the best girls in the world compete" said Story post prize giving.
 

Martin - Fitzharris finished second in the all Gisborne girls final ahead of Jasmine Smith in third and Hannah Kohn in fourth.

Korbin Hutchings (Gis) was the second surfer of the day to defend his 2010 title winning the Sequence Surf Shop Under 14 Boys Division. Hutchings held a slender lead over young Mount Maunganui surfer Kehu Butler who for the last three minutes was unable to find the 3.28 point ride to move him up into first place. Butler finished the final in second ahead of Sam Deeley (Florida) in third and Christchurch surfer Harrison Whiteside in fourth.

In the youngest division of the day, The Surfers Skin Under 12 Boys Division, eleven year old Tane Bowden (WGM) claimed his first ever victory at national level. He started with a final-high 6.33 point ride and soon after locked in a 5.0 to lead the final throughout. The youngster tried to keep a straight face at the prize giving but holding his winnings above his head at the end, you could see the appreciation on his face as he went on to thank the event namesake Maz Quinn for putting on the contest for all the grommets.

Kehu Butler (Mnt) placed second in the final scoring 9.93 ahead of Taine Craig - Ranga (Waihi Beach) in third and Reuben Mottart (Gis) in fourth.

The award for the best air of the event turned into the best barrel given the pumping conditions on day one and that accolade went to local boy Jules Craft for his draining barrel ride on day one. The highest heat score and wave score went to Kehu Butler for his 17.0 point heat total in the semifinal of the Under 12 Boys, the total including a 9.0 point ride.

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Quiksilver King of the Groms held at Wainui Beach Results

Under 16 Boys Semifinals

Heat 1
Paul Moretti (Mimiwhangata), 12.2, 1, Dune Kennings (Whmata), 11.33, 2, Levi Stewart (Waihi Bch), 7, 3, Josh Taylor (Mnt), 6.93,

Heat 2
Jules Craft (Gis), 12.43, 1, Elliot Paerata - Reid (Piha), 11.43, 2, Mackenzie Christie (Tau), 10.27, 3, Korbin Hutchings (Gis), 8.8, 4

Under 16 Boys Final

Elliot Paerata - Reid (Piha), 12.5, 1, Paul Moreiti (Mimiwhangata), 9.3, 2, Jules Craft (Gis), 7.1, 3, Dune Kennings (Whmata), 6.93, 4

Under 14 Boys Semifinal

Heat 1
Kehu Butler (Arataki), 17, 1, Harrison Whiteside (ChCh), 9.5, 2, Taine Craig Ranga (Waihi Bch), 7.23, 3, Quinn Matenga (Mnt), 5.5, 4

Heat 2
Korbin Hutchings (Gis), 12.2, 1, Sam Deeley (Willards), 12, 2, Te Rapai Barbarich Love (Waitara), 9.33, 3, Travis Morton (Waihi Bch), 7.83, 4

Under 14 Boys Final

Korbin Hutchings (Gis), 8.93, 1, Kehu Butler (Arataki), 7.73, 2, Sam Deeley (Willards), 7.1, 3, Harrison Whiteside (ChCh), 4.5, 4

Under 12 Boys Semifinals

Heat 1
Kehu Butler (Arataki), 15.4, 1, Reuben Mottart (Gis), 11.7, 2, Luke Griffin (Mt), 7.43, 3

Heat 2
Tane Bowden (Whmata), 12.2, 1, Taine Craig Ranga (Waihi Bch), 11, 2, Daniel Farr (Tara), 5.77, 3

Under 12 Boys Final

Tane Bowden (Whmata), 11.3, 1, Kehu Butler (Arataki), 9.93, 2, Taine Craig Ranga (Waihi Bch), 7.4, 3, Reuben Mottart (Gis), 6.43, 4

Under 16 Girls Final

Dayna Story (Gis), 6.67, 1, Jayda Martin-Fitzharris (Gis), 6.3, 2, Jasmine Smith (Gis), 5.6, 3, Hannah Kohn (Gis), 3.97, 4