Kiwis Beat South Africa and Open Event With Wins

The Rip Curl New Zealand Junior Surfing Team has started their international campaign with success – all eight boys progressing through to the second round of the 2008 ISA Quiksilver World Junior Championships. Prior to the opening day of the event the team also beat South Africa and defended the SANZ Trophy contested prior to the ‘Worlds’ every year.

Photo: Alex Dive from Mount Maunganui / Image Courtesy of Quiksilver

The New Zealand team have been in top form early at the event. Six of the eight boys won their round one match ups at the event which this year sees approximately 280 surfers vying for valuable world titles. Gisborne’s Johnny Hicks blew apart competitors from the 28 countries competing at the event when he posted the highest heat score of the opening day – 18.00 out of a possible 20 points.

Hicks – a three time New Zealand representative is competing in the under 16 boys division. He opened his account with a near perfect 9.5 point ride in the long lefthanders. He then backed that up with an 8.5 point ride to combo the other three surfers from Japan, Israel and Italy.

Fellow under 16 surfers to progress were Alex Dive (Mnt) who posted 13.10 in his heat for an easy win. Both Damien Norman and Blake Myers had to settle for second place finishes in their heats progressing behind the impressive Japanese surfers.

In the under 18 boys division it was Matt Hewitt (Mnt) that shone posting a 16.17 point heat total for an easy victory. Hewitt placed third in the under 16 boys division in 2007 and will want to find that magic touch again for a good result in France. His form would suggest that the magic touch is already there after scoring 8.50 and 7.67 point rides in his heat to secure the third highest score for his division on day one.

Eli Jacobs, Ryan Hawker (Piha) and Paco Divers also locked away confidence building heat wins in the first round. Jacobs scored 13.00 to win his heat while Hawker won a low scoring heat with a score of 8.63. Divers posted 12.13 to win his heat.

Prior to the main event the New Zealand team defended the SANZ Trophy contested between the South African and New Zealand teams. The win was clinched in the final tag team round where the two New Zealand teams (six surfers per team) posted a first and third. Leading into the final round the team was being led by South Africa despite winning two of the three individual titles on offer.

Paige Hareb (Tara) won the women’s division ahead of Airini Mason (Gis) after the two girls were locked in a tie at the end of the final. Hareb by way of a superior highest scoring wave took the title.

In the under 16 boys Damien Norman won the division ahead of Alex Dive (Mnt) in second.

Paco Divers excelled in the under 18 boys division placing second against the three South Africans in the final. Eli Jacobs was unlucky not to make the final after narrowly missing out in the semis.

The 2008 Quiksilver ISA World Junior Championships takes place from the 24th of May through until the 1st of April. Live action can be viewed via the following website: http://www.isaworldchamp.com/. Action commences at approximately 8.00pm (NZ time) each night. Day two action will include the opening round of the under 18 girls division which sees New Zealand’s Paige Hareb, Airini Mason, Alexis Poulter (Rag) and Rosa Thompson (Auck) enter the water.

The 2008 Rip Curl New Zealand Team

Under 18 Boys
Paco Divers – Sandy Bay
Ryan Hawker – Piha
Matt Hewitt – Mount Maunganui
Eli Jacobs - Queensland

Under 18 Women
Paige Hareb – Taranaki
Alexis Poulter – Raglan
Airini Mason – Queensland
Rosa Thompson - Auckland

Under 16 Boys
Johnny Hicks – Gisborne
Blake Myers – Whangamata
Alex Dive – Mount Maunganui
Damien Norman – New South Wales

Source: Surfing New Zealand

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