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Quinn Brothers Breeze Through to Quarterfinals
Written by Ben Kennings
Tuesday, 16 January 2007
The brothers Quinn, Maz and Jay have breezed through to the quarterfinals of the Hyundai National Surfing Championships today (Tuesday) each of them comfortably winning both of their second and third round heats. It is almost evident that the two surfers have barely got into fourth gear with their effortless power surfing. The excellent 1.5m – 2.0m swell at Stent Road has provided the perfect playground for the past two days for the two surfers and their surfing has certainly proved to be a crowd pleaser.
Maz Quinn competing on the ASP WCT
Maz Quinn posted the exact
same score in both his second and third round heats – 16.75 out of a
possible 20. Huge arcing turns tight in the pocket have been Maz’s
successful formula and he has done it better than everyone else.
Younger brother Jay has been equally as dominant scoring 13.75 and
13.8 respectively in his heats.
Jay, who many regard as the more spontaneous surfer of the two is looking
forward to clashing with his brother and the only way this will happen will
be in the final of the event should they both make it there. “It is always
good to meet up with him (Maz) and I am looking forward to it this time
around so let’s see how it goes” commented Quinn after his third round heat.
“I haven’t got out of third gear yet, I have been trying to ‘ride
out’ some older boards, older favourites that I haven’t been using outside
of competition in the last couple of months”. The 2004 National Champs was
the last time the two surfers met in competition here in New Zealand with
Maz coming out the victor over Jay who placed second.
Fellow Gisborne surfer Richard Christie was the other standout of the day
posting 17.0 and 14.75 in his heats to move through to the last 16 surfers.
Christie who was 2005 National Champion in the Open Mens and Junior Mens
divisions put on an explosive performance scoring the only perfect ten point
ride of the event to date. Christie excels in big righthanders
where he can utilise his huge 6ft plus frame and his strategy today was
certainly to go big with huge floaters, vertical re-entries and strong
carves.
Local surfer Simon Deken advanced through both heats today also backing up
his dark horse tag from day three. Scoring 14.25 in his last heat of the
day he advances to the quarterfinals. Coincidently the Quinn
brothers, Christie and Deken the form four surfers will all surf in separate
quarterfinals and provided they place first or second in those heats, will
not meet up until the semifinals.
Daniel Kereopa of Raglan is another surfer to move through today however in
slightly different circumstances. He placed second twice, both in close
calls seemingly looking at odds with the Stent Road line up.
Some say that it is great to progress through close heats when not surfing
at 100% and they look forward to the heats where everything comes together.
Others suggest it is a sign of a struggling surfer that will not progress
much further. Kereopa will hope it is the former as he
continues his search for the elusive open men’s national title.
Other surfers to win their third round heats included Leon Santorik (Rag),
Zennor Wernham (Rag), Motu Mataa (Tara) and Nathan Welch (Gis).
The forecast for Wednesday is looking good with a slight decrease in swell
and offshore winds predicted
