Quinn Now Ranked Top Kiwi Surfer In World

Jay Quinn (Gis) has leap-frogged travelling companion Richard Christie (Mah) to become the highest ranked Kiwi surfer in the world at 44th after posting an impressive runner-up finish to Kolohe Andino (USA) at the Fantastic Noodles Kangaroo Island Pro completed in Australia yesterday (9th November).

The event was completed at Kangaroo Island off Adelaide in small wind affected 1.0m waves.

The updated world rankings were released overnight with Quinn jumping up two places from 46th and switching positions with Christie who placed third at the event after being eliminated by Quinn in the semifinals.

The six-star rated Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) event offered up big points for all three Kiwi surfers competing. Billy Stairmand (Rag) secured a good fifth placing and jumped up to 78th in the world. In a twist of fate, Stairmand was also eliminated by Quinn on his way to the final. It is the first time that three Kiwi surfers have finished inside the top eight at a major ASP event.

Quinn played the waiting game in the final, holding priority until the bigger sets came through. But they weren't enough to see him take top honours finishing with 13.64 to Andino's 15.33.

Quinn's powerful carves impressed the crowds and the judges all event, but he struggled in the wind affected conditions in the final. "I could be feeling a lot better right now, but there wasn't a lot more I could do out there," Quinn said. "Kolohe (Andino) can get 8-point-rides on knee high waves and I can't. This is a good result and should push me up the ratings a few spots which is good, I go into Hawaii with a bit of confidence, if I manage to get there."

Quinn has had an excellent run of results over the past 18 months which has included three runner-up placings, two of which have been in the last six months. Furthermore Quinn has secured third and fifth placings in the higher rated ASP Prime events, one tier below the World Title level. The results have pushed Quinn close to Christie's peak of 42nd in the world which he briefly held earlier this year.

Surfers need to finish inside the top 32 surfers on the rankings to qualify for the ASP World Title Series and despite there only being twelve surfers between Quinn and qualification, the points difference is significant. Quinn would need two excellent results in the final two Hawaiian events to bridge the 5000 point gap for a chance of breaking into the elite level of the sport.

Complicating matters for the final Hawaiian leg of the tour is the fact that Quinn is eagerly awaiting the birth of his first child which coincides with the last two events of the year. This may see him miss these events which run back to back from 12th November.