Raglan Surf Academy Class of 2010

The Raglan Area School Surfing Academy is once again hosting the annual Schools Surfing Championships on the 17th and 18th of August. This competition is different to the National Scholastics in that any surfer from any school can enter as long as there are no more than 10 entries from each school.

The top 4 places from each school will determine who wins the School Team Championship. Last year Whangamata Area School won the School Trophy.

The divisions are proudly sponsored by VOLCOM (U18 Boys), RIPCURL (U16 Boys) and REEF (U14 Boys), ROXY (U18 Girls). All finalists will receive heaps of prizes and beautifully handcrafted trophies. There will also be lots of spot prizes and fun competition giveaways, onceagain sponsored by BACKDOOR SURFSHOP.

Heat Draws
Reef Under 14 Boys
Rip Curl Under 16 Boys
Roxy Under 18 Girls
Volcom Under 18 Boys

The Raglan Surfing Academy students are not permitted to enter the event as their job is to run the event on the day.

The competition will run for 2 days – 17th and 18th of August. The venue will be Manu Bay. Registration will be Monday night. 6:30pm at the school hall.

The postponement days of the 19th and 20th of August are in case the surf is unsuitable. Two days notice will be given if there is a need for postponement.

There will be limited numbers. Last year the draw was full 2 weeks before competition day so be quick. First paid entries will have priority. There is plenty of accommodation this time of year inRaglan. The most reasonably priced accommodation is the Kopua Holiday Park (07 825 8283) Solscape (07 825 8268) and the Raglan Backpackers (07 825 0515).

Entry forms can be downloaded from www.surfingnz.co.nz

For more information contact
Larry Fisher
Cell 021 716 715
Home 07 825 7499
Email larry_fisher@raglanarea.school.nz

Written by Raglan Surfing Academy Wednesday, 11 August 2010

Boardmasters at Newquay - Image ASP Aquashot

NEWQUAY, England (Thursday, August 5, 2010) – The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Relentless Boardmasters entered the business end of competition with the completion of Round two and the first two heats of Round three in tricky, windblown 3-4ft (1m) waves at Fistral beach. Top seeded surfers and young guns shared the honours today in an explosive display of surfing at the Relentless Boardmasters 2010.

Surfers competing in the Relentless Boardmasters are out to claim valuable One World Ratings points in their bid to secure a spot on the ASP Dream Tour 2011. European competitors have the added challenge of building on their European Men’s Series ratings at stop nº 4 of 12 which will eventually crown this year’s European Men’s Champion.

Beyrick De Vries (ZAF) blew everyone away with an amazing display of innovative surfing in the tricky 3-4ft conditions with a mixture of aerial moves combined with powerful turns and flow through the bumpy sections in conditions that for many proved to be very testing in his Round two clash. Getting off to a strong start and building on his scores De Vries finished off with a scintillating 9.17 out of a possible 10 to score the single highest wave and combined two wave heat total 17.17 of the event so far.

“The guys were really cool out there and we were all taking turns because it is a bit of a wave catching contest and I was lucky to get those two and the last one was a really good wave which stood up nicely and let me have some fun. It is super onshore and peaky at the moment so there is a soft little lip and there are some waves out there and when you get one it is really nice.”

After waiting all day yesterday to get his chance to hit the water and eventually having his heat placed on hold until this morning De Vries has returned with all guns blazing and looks a hot favourite for the later rounds.

“I had an early night last night because I was really tired after waiting all day in the rain yesterday so when I got into bed the feeling was amazing and I woke up this morning feeling fresh.”

Billy Stairmand (NZL) showed his potential on his backhand with some sharp clean turns on the longer lefts which he managed to paddle into during his early morning match-up. Surfing long lefts at Raglan New Zealand has honed his skills to razor sharp efficiency allowing him to advance with relative ease into the following round in his first year at the Relentless Boardmasters.

“There are some good little waves coming through and I managed to get a couple at the end there and with these new boards I’ve got which were made for here and I feel way more comfortable on my backhand going left. It is a really interesting place and it’s really busy but I’m having a great time here so far. I was expecting it to be way smaller so to get some actual waves is good.”

Andre Teixeira (Bahia/BRA) 32, was first to secure his pass into the final 16 coming out on top over an in-form Russel Winter (GBR) and Joao Guedes (PRT) who placed third. Somewhat of a dark horse Teixeira has travelled from Australia where he currently lives to compete in the Relentless Boardmasters for the second consecutive time. Enjoying his time here in Newquay and trying to make the most of the next few years before his “retirement” from professional surfing the ever smiling Teixeira is going to make the most of his opportunities and savour this most special moment for him.

“It’s an amazing feeling and I have never been in this situation before and all the Brazilians who are here are cheering for me so it feels great. I was here last year and I really liked the vibe of this place and the conditions are similar to where I am from in Brazil so I am comfortable surfing in waves like that.”

Top seed Travis Logie (ZAF) and Russel Winter (GBR) both advanced into the fourth round relatively comfortably and will come head to head in heat nº 2 which is sure to be one of the many highly expected confrontations when competition at the Relentless Boardmasters resumes.

First call tomorrow will be at 10:00 am (local time) for a possible 10:30 kick off. When competition resumes up first will be fellow Australians Leigh McMahon and Russell Molony up against Billy Stairmand (NZL) in heat nº3 of Round three.

All results, photos, news and daily releases are available on www.aspeurope.com

REMAINING ROUND 3 MATCH-UPS RELENTLESS BOARDMASTERS
Heat 3: Leigh McMahon (AUS), Billy Stairmand (NZL), Russell Molony (AUS)
Heat 4: Sam Lamiroy (GBR), Marc Lacomare (FRA), Beyrick De Vries (ZAF)
Heat 5: Messias Felix (BRA), Jay Quinn (NZL), Reubyn Ash (GBR)
Heat 6: Kyle Lane (ZAF), Killian Garland (USA), Hugo Savalli (REU)
Heat 7: Anthony Walsh (AUS), Vincent Duvignac (FRA), Nathan Webster (AUS)
Heat 8: Heath Joske (AUS), Matt Bemrose (AUS), Nick Riley (AUS)

RELENTLESS BOARDMASTERS ROUND 3 RESULTS
Heat 1: Andre Teixeira (BRA) 11.14, Russel Winter (GBR) 9.66, Joao Guedes (PRT) 8.83
Heat 2: Travis Logie (ZAF) 11.83, Brendon Gibbens (ZAF) 8.90, Christophe Allary (REU) 8.83

RELENTLESS BOARDMASTERS ROUND 2 RESULTS
Heat 5: Billy Stairmand (NZL) 14.60, Marc Lacomare (FRA) 13.70, Renato Galvao (BRA) 10.30, Txaber Trojaola (EUK) 7.60
Heat 6: Beyrick De Vries (ZAF) 17.17, Russell Malony (AUS) 10.16, Gordan Fontaine (FRA) 9.07, Eduardo Fernandes (PRT) 6.66
Heat 7: Messias Felix (BRA) 12.50, Kyle Lane (ZAF) 9.70, Andre Oziol (HAW) 6.26, Robertson Goncalves (PRT) 5.50
Heat 8: Jay Quinn (NZL) 14.26, Killian Garland (USA) 10.70, Alan Stokes (GBR) 9.03, Oli Adams (GBR) 8.73
Heat 9: Hugo Savalli (REU) 14.00, Reubyn Ash (GBR) 12.00, Chad Du Toit (ZAF) 10.96, Joackim Petersen Guichard (NOR) 7.23
Heat 10: Anthony Walsh (AUS) 12.33, Heath Joske (AUS) 11.04, Romain Laulhe (FRA) 9.23, Josh Piper (GBR) 6.40
Heat 11: Vincent Duvignac (FRA) 11.50, Matt Bemrose (AUS) 10.17, Antonio Bortoletto (ZAF) 10.00, Jorge Spanner (BRA) 6.60
Heat 12: Nick Riley (AUS) 11.93, Nathan Webster (AUS) 11.53, Ruda Carvalho (BRA) 10.90, Romain Cloitre (FRA) 10.16

A lay day has been called for Day 6 on Augist 6th, due to small inconsistent conditions.

Media Release:  August 5, 2010, ASP International

Paige Hareb - Image ASP / Kirtin Sholtz

The 2010 New Zealand Surfing Team was confirmed today (Monday 2^nd August).  Eight of the nation’s top surfers will compete at the annual 2010 Billabong International Surfing Association (ISA) World Surfing Games at Punta Hermosa, Lima, Peru from the 19^th – 27^th of October.

New Zealand’s highest world-ranked surfer Paige Hareb (Tara) has confirmed she will attend the event – the first time she has competed in the New Zealand team.

The current world number 9 will compete alongside five team members who attended the event in 2009 as well as two newcomers – Nick White (Mnt) and Morehu Roberts (Gis).

While Hareb has competed successfully at ISA junior events in the past, placing in the finals, this will be her first outing to a World Surfing Games – considered the ‘Olympics of surfing’.

“Yeah I like the team aspect for a change” said Hareb of being selected and competing as a team instead of the more familiar surrounds as an individual pro surfer on the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Tour. “All the support you get from one another and the good times you get along the way are great.”

Hareb suggests up to four of the worlds top ranked female surfers will be in attendance at the 2010 Billabong ISA World Surfing Games.  2004 World Champion and Peruvian superstar Sofia Mulanovich can be attributed in some way to their attendance. “My good friend Sofia lives there. I have been to Peru many times and surfed the waves where the comp is going to be held at. I love it there so it’s another good excuse for me to go back” said Hareb.

New Zealand Champion Laura Rishworth (Mnt) will be the second of two females representing New Zealand at the event.  The Mount Maunganui surfer also represented New Zealand in 2009 placing 17^th.

Nick White – Image Cory / NZ Surf Mag

Rishworth is joined by fellow Mount Maunganui surfer and first time New Zealand representative Nick White.  White has competed full-time on the ASP World Tour for the past two years but took a break in 2010 to concentrate on improving his skills.  Therefore when the chance came up for a one-off world event, he jumped at it.

White is joined by Jay Quinn (Gis), New Zealand’s highest placed surfer at the 2009 event placing 13^th, fellow New Zealand rep Luke Hughes (Rag) and Gisborne surfer Morehu Roberts who was runner up to Maz Quinn on the Export Gold Series earlier this year.

The team is rounded out by Daniel Procter (Gis) and Thomas Kibblewhite (Auck) as the two surfers competing in the Men’s Longboard Division.  Both surfers competed at the event in 2009 with Procter placing 13^th and Kibblewhite placing 17^th.

Luke Hughes - Image Cory / NZ Surf Mag

The team will look to improve on the eleventh placing in 2009 when the event was held in Costa Rica.  Hareb obviously has high personal goals and suggests the entire team could also place highly at this year’s event.  “The waves are really fun there, I’ve surfed them a lot before so am feeling confident already. They are similar waves to my local waves at home – Rocky Point and Stent Road.  I know the New Zealand team will really like it there, we’ll be in a good environment, in a good vibe and if it all comes together I know we will all do well!” said Hareb.

The 2010 New Zealand Surfing Team is as follows:

Open Men
Jay Quinn (Gisborne)
Luke Hughes (Raglan)
Morehu Roberts (Gisborne)
Nick White (Mount Maunganui)

Open Women
Laura Rishworth (Mount Maunganui)
Paige Hareb (Taranaki)

Men’s Longboard
Daniel Procter (Gisborne)
Thomas Kibblewhite (Auckland)

Manager – David Van Staden (Rag)
Coach – Jay Quinn (Gis)

About International Surfing Association (ISA)
The International Surfing Association (ISA) is recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as the World Governing Authority for surfing, bodyboarding and surfriding.  It was originally founded as the International Surfing Federation in 1964 and has been running world championships since 1964, and the Junior World Championships since 1980.

Media Release: Surfing NZ, Written by Ben Kennings, 02.08.2010

Surfing New Zealand (SNZ) has announced today the appointment of Lee Ryan to the position of Surfing Development Manager within the SNZ management team.

Ryan has been working under contract for SNZ delivering coaching and judging education programmes for the past four years.  The appointment brings Ryan into the management team on a full time basis where he will be able to expand on the delivery of the education programmes and carry out further work to develop the sport of surfing.

Lee has already built up strong working relationships with key sporting industry players such as the International Surfing Association and the Association of Surfing Professionals.

Surfing New Zealand CEO Greg Townsend is delighted with the new appointment.  “Bringing Lee in to the management team will enhance our ability to work on the initiatives outlined in the strategic plan” said Townsend.  “Lee has a proven track record with the work he has already completed for Surfing New Zealand and over the past four years he has also shown a sound skill set that will add further value to the organisation” added Townsend.

Lee will also work alongside the management team developing a national coaching programme, engaging with the surfing community through boardrider clubs and increasing the structure around the development of our athletes at community, regional and national levels.

“I am stoked to be part of the Surfing New Zealand team.  There is a lot of scope for development in the sport of surfing and I am looking forward to getting stuck in” said Ryan of his appointment.

Lee Ryan immigrated to New Zealand from the United Kingdom in 2006, where he worked for the British Surfing Association as a Trainer/Assessor.

A former competitive surfer on both short and longboards, Ryan competed as a full time professional on the ASP World Longboard Tour from 1995 to 2006. He has nine British National Titles to his name and finished ninth in the ASP Oxbow World Longboard Championships in Raglan in 2004 where he fell in love with the country and its’ people and decided to make NZ his home.

Since hanging up the contest vest Lee moved into officiating the sport.  Lee is a well respected ASP and ISA judge and is the head judge for the popular Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour.

Media Release: Ben Kennings, Surfing NZ Friday, 09 July 2010