Kiwi Surf Team Hold Strong With Top Nations

For immediate release

Date: 21st October 2010
From: Surfing New Zealand
Sport: International Surfing
Event: 2010 Billabong ISA World Surfing Games
Divisions: Open Men, Open Women, Men’s Longboard
Date: 19th – 27th October
Location: Punta Hermosa, Lima, Peru
Websites: www.isasurf.org www.billabongpro.com and www.surfingnz.co.nz

Kiwi Surf Team Hold Strong With Top Nations

The Quiksilver New Zealand Surfing Team made a clean sweep of their heats on day one of the 2010 Billabong ISA World Surfing Games progressing all six competing surfers through to the second round of the event.

It was a good start for the Kiwi team who kept up with the powerhouse nations of Australia, France, South Africa, USA and Brazil in solid 1.5m – 2.0m waves at Punta Hermosa, Peru.

The Billabong ISA World Surfing Games run from the 19th – 27th of October and the event sees over 200 competitors from 31 nations competing for their national colours.

The Kiwi girls both took out first place in their heats with New Zealand’s number one ranked surfer Paige Hareb (Taranaki) shining above the pack on the way to her win. Surfing the lefthand point break at the main podium Hareb scored 8.33 points out of a possible 10 on one wave for two aggressive forehand re-entries. Hareb then played the patience game waiting for the best waves before sealing the win late in her heat.

Hareb is one of five ASP World Tour surfers competing in the Women’s Division, making for one of the most talent filled fields in the history of the event.

Laura Rishworth (Mnt) also won her heat but insisted that nerves got the better of her. “I'm glad to have gotten through that first round and get the first heat jitters out of the way” said Rishworth adding “I was a bit disappointed with my performance ‘cos I got a bit lost out there, but stoked to be through and have taken the lessons from it and am ready to get going in the next round”.

The next round for the girls will be surfed tomorrow (Friday 22nd October, NZ time) along with the first round of the Longboard Division where Daniel Procter (Gis) and Thomas Kibblewhite (Auck) will make their first appearance.

The four Kiwi Open Men’s Division surfers will also be back in the water after a successful first day of surfing.

Morehu Roberts (Gis) was the top scorer for the Kiwis posting 13.00 points in his heat to secure first place. Luke Hughes (Raglan) and Keone Campbell (Taranaki) were not far behind winning their heats with heat scores of 10.27 and 9.8 points out of a possible 20 respectively.

Hughes and Roberts surfed the left hand break which offered up good quality waves while Campbell and Nick White (Mnt) had to surf the less consistent right handers on the other side of the bay.

White was the only New Zealand surfer to place second in his heat but that was good enough to see him into the second round and another shot at his opponents on Day 2.

The 2010 Billabong ISA World Surfing Games uses a double elimination format meaning that all surfers have to place third or fourth in their heats twice, before being eliminated from the event.

The team is looking to improve on the eleventh placing in 2009 when the event was held in Costa Rica.

The day prior saw the Quiksilver New Zealand Surfing Team attend the Opening Ceremony and Sands of the World Ceremony. Paige Hareb and Laura Rishworth poured the sand for New Zealand while the boys performed an impromptu haka below the stage after officials suggested it would not be appropriate on stage.

Check out times for the Quiksilver New Zealand Surfing Team heats on day two (22nd October NZ time) below.

Longboard Division
4.40am – Thomas Kibblewhite
8.20am – Daniel Procter

Women’s Division
2.00am – Paige Hareb
4.20am – Laura Rishworth

Open Men’s Division
5.40am – Luke Hughes
6.20am – Nick White
8.00am – Keone Campbell
9.00am – Morehu Roberts

Live Webcast
The event is being broadcast live over the net via http://billabongpro.com/isa10/. Media releases on the team’s performance will be distributed daily throughout the event and posted on www.surfingnz.co.nz. Also keep up to date with what is happening via:

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Further Information
For further information regarding the New Zealand Junior Surfing Team please contact Ben Kennings at Surfing New Zealand 07 8250018, 0212278732 or email benkennings@surfingnz.co.nz.

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.

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