2009 New Zealand Surfing Team Named

The 2009 New Zealand Surfing Team was announced today (Wednesday 3rd July). Eight of the nation’s top surfers will compete at the annual 2009 Billabong ISA World Surfing Games at Hermosa, Costa Rica from the 31st of July through to the 8th of August.

The team includes the three national champions for their respective divisions – Matt Hewitt (Mnt) in the Open Men’s, Daisy Thomas (Chch) in the Open Women’s and Daniel Procter (Gis) in the Longboard Division.

The team also includes Gisborne’s Jay Quinn who will fill a dual role for the tour to Costa Rica. Quinn will compete in the event for the first time since he won the World Junior Championships in 2001. This time around he will coach the youthful New Zealand team filling a management role for the first time.

Whangamata’s Gauranga Ormond and Raglan’s Billy Stairmand complete the four positions for the Open Men’s Division. Ormond surfed his way into the team via his flow of consistent results throughout the year that saw him place second on the Corona Crown Series. It will be the first time that Gauranga Ormond has represented New Zealand after being selected as a reserve during his junior years.

Stairmand also makes the men’s team for the first time. The naturally talented Stairmand won the Rip Curl Pro on home turf back in February and also placed in other finals throughout this summer. Stairmand is also New Zealand’s top ranked surfer on the Australasian Pro Junior Series, ranked 30th.

Another new comer to the team is Mount Maunganui surfer Laura Rishworth. She joins Daisy Thomas in the Women’s Division, Thomas having competed at the event in 2008 when it was held in Portugal. Thomas placed 25th in 2008.

Rishworth surfed to third on the Corona Crown Series this summer with her best result being a first place at the Billabong Pro held at Whangamata.

Thomas Kibblewhite (Auck) returns to the New Zealand team having last competed at the World Surfing Games in 2006. Kibblewhite placed in every final of this year’s Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour to finish the year ranked third.

Daniel Procter (Gis) narrowly missed the tour title in March but proved that he can match it with the best after winning the Hyundai National Champs presented by Quiksilver as well as the Hyundai Pro held at Sandy Bay.

The team will look to improve on the tenth placing they surfed to in 2008.

The 2009 New Zealand Surfing Team

Open Men
Billy Stairmand (Rag)
Gauranga Ormond (WGM)
Jay Quinn (Gis)
Matt Hewitt (BOP)
Non travelling reserve – Luke Cederman (Rag)

Open Women
Daisy Thomas (Chch)
Laura Rishworth (Mnt)
Non travelling reserve – Angie Koops (Kaik)

Longboard
Daniel Procter (Gis)
Thomas Kibblewhite (Auck)
Non travelling reserve – Leroy Rust (Ota)

Manager – David Van Staden (Rag)

Coach – Jay Quinn (Gis)