ONeill Sequence Surf Shop Pro Pulls In Big Names

The big guns of surfing in New Zealand have all confirmed their attendance at the O’Neill Sequence Surf Shop Pro being held at Gisborne this weekend (1st – 2nd November). The event marks the first of six events on the Corona Crown Series for 2008/09 and New Zealand’s best want to make sure they start their year strong. The local big guns that have confirmed their attendance include Maz Quinn, Bobby Hansen and Richard Christie.

Defending event champion Maz Quinn recently returned from a stint in Europe which included competing at the 2008 ISA World Surfing Games as part of the New Zealand team. Quinn was the highest placed Open Men’s Division surfer at 17th.

Quinn started the last competitive season on a high and went on to win his first ever Corona Crown Series title.

“It will be good to get back into it and compete in New Zealand waters” commented Maz in reference to the pending summer of events further adding “I am looking forward to getting out there and defending my title at this event and then going on and attempting to defend my Corona Crown Series title this summer”.

Fellow local surfer Bobby Hansen, New Zealand’s highest ranked male on the ASP WQS is en-route back to New Zealand at present and on paper is likely to be Quinn’s biggest challenge. Flying in on Saturday morning will give Hansen next to no time to adjust to the New Zealand waters. However despite this disadvantage, Hansen has achieved his best results of the year in the past month and competing in his own backyard will do nothing more than inspire him to continue his run of form.

“I am stoked to just get back in the water in New Zealand let alone at home in Gissy” commented Hansen. “I only fly in to Gissy on Saturday so it is not the best preparation for the comp but I am still looking forward to getting back, competing and catching up with all the boys” he added.

There are a number of surfers jumping back into the competitive frame of mind for this event also. Taranaki’s Simon Deken is an explosive surfer who has confirmed his entry into the event along with others that will traverse the North Island from Taranaki - Keone Campbell, Jarred Hancox and Bachelor Tipene.

Other big names to look out for include Luke Cederman (Rag), Nathan Welch (Gis), Sam Willis (Mnt), Leon Santorik (Rag), Billy Stairmand (Rag), Jeremy Evans (HBay) and Rangi Ormand (WGM).

The Open Women’s Division is void of several of the top surfers in New Zealand with the likes of New Zealand team member and defending champion Daisy Thomas (Chch) still in Europe competing. Paige Hareb (Tara) is only home in New Zealand briefly before she flies out to Hawaii for the final event of the ASP World Qualifying Series and will not be attending the O’Neill Sequence Surf Shop Pro. 2007/08 Corona Crown Series winner Mischa Davis (Auck) is also absent from the entry list.

The new breed of young female talent has taken up the slack in the absence of the top seeds. Jayda Martin-Fitzharris (Gis), winner of the Women’s Division of the Auahi Kore Maori Titles held in Labour Weekend who is looking to be in good form. Also New Zealand Junior reps Alexis Poulter (Rag) and Rosa Thompson (Auck) will be keen to get their year off to a flier as they step up to the open women’s division.

The O’Neill Sequence Surf Shop Pro marks the end of the competitive season for the under 18 men. Tairua surfer Sean Peggs has stitched up the series already after placing in the final of every event this year including winning the prestigious junior division at the National Championships in January.

While Peggs has run away with the series win, the remainder of the field will want to finish their season on a high. Furthermore the World Junior Championships to be held in Ecuador in 2009 have been pushed forward to March/April meaning all junior surfers will want to put their best foot forward as they move closer to summer and the naming of the team.

Talented local grommets Johnny Hicks and Buck Woods sit in second and fourth respectively on the ratings. The two surfers enter the event off the back of the Auahi Kore Maori Titles held in Taranaki. Both surfers were double finalists at the event and on home turf this weekend, will be hard to beat. Separating those two surfers on the ratings is Alex Dive (Mnt). Dive has recently returned from Europe where he placed fourth at the international Quiksilver King of the Groms event in France.

Dive can climb as high as second on the ratings and likewise with a good result Keone Campbell (who currently sits in fifth place) could do the same having already proven he is capable of winning events after his performance at the Billabong Pro held at Whangamata in January.

Sticky Johnson Wax have stumped up a $500 prize purse for the best aerial display throughout the weekend. This addition to the event will no doubt have all competitors boosting for joy and the cold hard cash.

A preliminary heat draw for the O’Neill Sequence Surf Shop Pro can be viewed at http://www.surfingnz.co.nz/draws_results/index.htm.

Previous winners of the O’Neill Sequence Surf Shop Pro

Open Men

2003 – Daniel Kereopa (Rag)
2004 – Ben Kennings (WGM)
2005 – Daniel Kereopa (Rag)
2006 – Zennor Wernham (Rag)
07/08 – Maz Quinn (Gis)

Open Women

2003 – Kim Mayer (Gis)
2004 – Hester Sutherland – Stacey (Gis)
2005 – Lisa Hurunui (Gis)
2006 – Paige Hareb (Tara)
07/08 – Daisy Thomas (Chch)

Junior (U/18) Men

2003 – Bobby Hansen (Gis)
2004 – Richard Christie (Gis)
2005 – Morehu Roberts (Gis)
2006 – Richard Christie (Gis)
07/08 – Matt Hewitt (Mnt)

The current top ten junior surfers with the final event remaining are as follows:

1, Sean Peggs (Tairua)
2, Johnny Hicks (Gis)
3, Alex Dive (Mnt)
4, Buck Woods (Gis)
5, Keone Campbell (Tara)
6, Braedon Williams (Whmata)
7, Matt Hewitt (Mnt)
8, Michael Mallalieu (Tara)
9, Tim Thompson (Auck)
10, Tyler Anderson (Tara)