Billabong Pro
SNZ Corona Crown Series – event three
Open Men, Open Women, Under 18 Men
Whangamata, NZ
27 – 29 January 2007
Will The Ocean Cooperate?
Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 25 January, 2007 : - - The Billabong Pro takes place this weekend at Whangamata with small waves forecast to break throughout the weekend. However, current conditions along the East Coast of the North Island are nearly flat so everyone is hoping for the predicted swell to push through over the next couple of days. The Billabong Pro is the third of six events on the Corona Crown Surfing Series holding the highest possible rating of the series with over $15,000 in cash prizes.
The field of surfers has been confirmed for this weekend with over 110 surfers looking to make their mark on the event. New National Champion Daniel Kereopa (Rag) and runner up Maz Quinn (Gis) will be joined by Bobby Hansen (Gis) who returns from injury to contest the event. Hansen had to pull out of the Hyundai National Championships due to a knee injury he sustained late last year but has returned to defend his Billabong Pro title at Whangamata. “My knee is still a way off being back to 100% but it is a lot better than it was prior to the Nationals” commented Hansen. “I can do a few turns so we will see how it goes” a modest Hansen commented when asked about a title defence. Hansen will remain in New Zealand until the start of March when he will go to Australia and stay with friend Jay Quinn prior to contesting three international events in his campaign to make the top 44 surfers on the ASP World Championship Tour.
Kereopa has enjoyed the spoils of victory this week after his trifecta of wins which came in small surf conditions on the finals day of the Nationals – much similar to what is forecast this weekend. Having not surfed since Saturday, Kereopa is hoping that getting a couple of surfs prior to the event should be enough to get him into the right frame of mind to compete “honestly this weeks celebrations probably have affected the lead in for this event but you don’t always win a national title so I have spent a lot of time this week sharing it with family and friends” commented Kereopa.
The Raglan couple of Jessica Santorik and Billy Stairmand walked away with wins in the Open Women and Junior Men in 2006 and both will hope to do the same again this year. Santorik will only make it back into the country on Friday afternoon having competed in an international event at Phillip Island, Australia. Santorik will be aiming to defend her Corona Crown Series title for the second year in a row and with current number one ranked surfer Paige Hareb (Tara) remaining in Australia, is likely to take the ratings lead.
Stairmand has remained in New Zealand after the National Champs while a number of his counterparts jetted across to Queensland to compete in the Australasian Pro Junior Series. Ryan Hawker (Piha), Tim O’Conner (Mnt) and Paco Divers (Sandy Bay) are all returning home for the Billabong Pro this weekend and are likely to push Stairmand to the limits. Divers took the Under 18 title last week and as the smallest surfer of them all, this weekend’s swell conditions may suit him best.
The schedule for Saturday not only includes the best New Zealand surfers but also hot action on the beach. Corona will be putting on an awesome FMX display along The Esplanade with exhibitions at 12.30pm, 1.45pm and 3.15pm. There will be loads of giveaways as well as DJ Toni Cooper playing at the beach. Saturday night will see the after party take place at the Palms Tavern with Raw Sugar kicking off the night at 8pm followed by top New Zealand DJ Karne Hall.
QUICK FACTS
WHAT: The 2007 Billabong Pro is the third of six events on the Corona Crown Series for 2006/07.
WHEN: Saturday 27th – Monday 29th of January 2007.
WHERE: Whangamata Beach on the Coromandel Peninsula. The event will be hosted by Whangamata Boardriders.
WHO: Over 100 of the best surfers around New Zealand including Daniel Kereopa, Maz and Jay Quinn, Bobby Hansen.
FORMAT: Standard event format with four man heats and 50% progression in all three divisions. Finals will be staged on Monday the 29th of January conditions permitting.
STATUS: The Billabong Pro is rated Six Star on the Corona Crown Series and sanctioned by Surfing New Zealand. The top 16 males and the top 4 males after five events get to compete in the Corona Super 16 at Piha – an invitation event for the top surfers in New Zealand.
Corona Crown Series Ratings – After two events
Open Men
1, Daniel Kereopa (Rag)
2, Zennor Wernham (Rag)
3, Leon Santorik (Rag)
4, Ryan Hawker (Piha)
5, Morehu Roberts (Rag)
6, Richard Christie (Mahia)
7, Dean Amess (Whmata)
8, Maz Quinn (Gis)
9, Gauranga Ormond (Whmata)
10, Luke Hughes (Rag)
11, Justin Souter (Mnt)
12, Nathan Welch (Gis)
13, Billy Stairmand (Rag)
14, Keone Campbell (Tara)
15, Tim O'Connor (Mnt)
16, Mike Banks (Rag)
Open Women
1, Paige Hareb (Tara)
2, Jessica Santorik (Rag)
3, Kara Stephenson (Rag)
4, Claire Thomson (Gis)
5, Jessica Welch (Gis)
6, Wini Paul (Sandy Bay)
7, Mischa Davis (Auck)
8, Daisy Thomas (ChCh)
9, Angie Koops (Kaik)
10, Thandi Durham (Tara)
Under 18 Men
1, Paco Divers (Sandy Bay)
2, Tim O'Connor (Mnt)
3, Billy Stairmand (Rag)
4, Sean Peggs (Tairua)
5, Keone Campbell (Tara)
6, Matt Hewitt (Mnt)
7, Bodhi Whitaker (Gis)
7, Jay Paddock (Gis)
9, Ryan Hawker (Piha)
9, Buck Woods (Gis)
9, Oliver Bone (Sandy Bay)
9, Travis McCoy (Tau)
Billabong Pro Open Men Round 1 (First and second progress to the second round)
Heat 1 Sean Peggs, (Whamata), Josh Rees (Chch), Batchelor Tipene, (Tara)
Heat 2 James McAlpine, (Auck), Jason Hayes (Whmata), Brent Rasby, (Gis)
Heat 3 Troy Riley (HBay), Malakai Van Der Helder, (Rag), Moreno Guinle, Brz, Lynden Kennings (Whmata)
Heat 4 Matt Groube, (Cor), Simon Deken (Tara), Morehu Roberts, (Rag)
Heat 5 Braedon Williams, (Whmata), Craig Snook (Wgtn), Mike Banks (Rag)
Heat 6 Chris Amess, (Whmata), Ricky Parker, (Cor), Fernado Bretas, (Brz), Paul Ward (Aus)
Heat 7 Chris Speedy, (Cor), Jarred Joslin (Whmata), Ben Connolly, (Tara)
Heat 8 Buck Woods (Gis), Jeremy Evans (HBay), Jamie Andrews, (Tara)
Billabong Pro Open Men Round 2 (First and second progress to the third round)
Heat 1 Motu Mataa,(Tara), Jarrod Toomey, (Rag),
Heat 2 Nat Day, (Tara), Chris Millett, (Muriwai)
Heat 3 Dane Simpson (Gis), Matt Hewitt, (Mnt)
Heat 4 Gauranga Ormond, (Whmata), Reuben Woods, (Gis)
Heat 5 Nathan Welch (Gis), Cain Aldridge (Tara)
Heat 6 Paco Divers (Sandy Bay), Adam Cranston (Gis)
Heat 7 Keone Campbell (Tara), Wayne Norman (Cor)
Heat 8 Jay Quinn (Gis), Chad Dowsett (Whangarei)
Billabong Pro Open Men Round 3 (First and second progress to the fourth round)
Heat 1 Kierin Van Der Helder (Rag), Larry Fisher (Piha)
Heat 2 Tim O'Connor (Mnt), Deane Hishon (Rag)
Heat 3 Felix Dickson (Ota), Matt Hishon (Rag)
Heat 4 Ryan Hawker (Piha), Scott Casey (Auck)
Heat 5 Richard Christie (Mahia), Sam Willis (Rag)
Heat 6 ick White (Mnt), Cheyne Dowsett (Whangarei)
Heat 7 Billy Stairmand (Rag), Jos Kennings (Whmata)
Heat 8 David Van Staden, (Rag), Matt Scorringe (Cor)
Billabong Pro Open Men Round 4
Heat 1 Maz Quinn (Gis), Jarrod Hancox (Tara)
Heat 2 Dean Amess (Whmata), Damon Gunness (Gis)
Heat 3 Luke Cederman (Rag), Blair Stewart (Gis)
Heat 4 Daniel Kereopa (Rag), Bobby Hansen (Gis)
Heat 5 Zennor Wernham (Rag), Hayden Brain (ChCh)
Heat 6 Justin Souter (Mnt), Ben Kennings (Whmata)
Heat 7 Leon Santorik (Rag), AJ Matthews (Whmata)
Heat 8 Luke Hughes (Rag), Mark Dovey (Mnt)
Billabong Pro Under 18 Men Round 1
Heat 1 Matt Hewitt (Mnt), Oliver Bone (Sandy Bay), Stefan White (Whmata)
Heat 2 Keone Campbell (Tara), Travis McCoy (Tau), Zac Smith (Rag)
Heat 3 Johnny Hicks (Gis), Sean Peggs (Tairua), Sam Dunfoy (Kaik), Pete Ralph (Russell)
Heat 4 Paco Divers (Sandy Bay), Michael Mallalaieu (Tara), Zen Wallis (Piha)
Heat 5 Tim O'Connor (Mnt), Braedon Williams (Whmata), Karne Pitcher (Whmata)
Heat 6 Adam Cranston (Gis), Bodhi Whitaker (Gis), Tyler Anderson (Tara), Blake Myers (WGM)
Heat 7 Billy Stairmand (Rag), Ryan Heath (Whmata), Storm Carroll (Auck),
Heat 8 Ryan Hawker (Piha), Buck Woods (Gis), Jake Gibbs (Rag)
Billabong Pro Open Women Quarterfinals
Heat 1 Claire Thomson (Gis), Jessica Welch (Gis), Heather Easterbrook (Whngrei), Michelle Langdon (Bop)
Heat 2 Jessica Santorik (Rag), Pipi Sopp (Cor), Alexis Poulter (Piha)
Heat 3 Kara Stephenson (Rag), Laura Rishworth (Mnt), Alexis Poulter (Piha), Thandi Durham (Tara)
Previous reports:
# 1 : Coming soon
# 2 : Coming soon
# 3 : Coming soon
# 4 : Coming soon
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Ben Kennings
benkennings@surfingnz.co.nz
SNZ Contests - Surfersvillage
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SurfersVillage.com on the 25th January 2007.
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