Top Surfers Shine But Hansen Sends Out Warning Signs That He Is Back

Day three of the 2012 Hyundai National Surfing Championships saw New Zealand's best surfers hit the water in the star studded Open Men's Division with the country's internationally ranked surfers bringing flare to the best conditions Piha has seen in 2012.

The surf peaked at 2.0m in the morning and with brisk offshore winds, the conditions could not have been much better with big turns and barrels highlighting some exceptional performances.

New Zealand's top three internationally ranked surfers all progressed through their heats. In a bizarre twist of fate Richard Christie (Gis), ranked 43rd in the world, and Billy Stairmand (Rag), ranked 79th drew each other in their first heat but easily progressed, Christie getting the nod over Stairmand this time around.

"I am stoked to beat Bill for sure" Christie said as he exited the water. "It was fun out there, I got into a rhythm early on and held the lead but I am stoked Billy did well as well."

Christie is off to Brazil in ten days time where he will start his international campaign and attempt to better his 43rd ranking from 2011. This event, while very important domestically, also doubles as a warm up for the coming international season for Christie. "It is good to get back into competitive mode after a break, get the routine going again and get a feel for making it through heats."

Stairmand who had to settle for second scoring 12.83 to Christie's 14.57 is the lighter of the two surfers and admitted to struggling with the strong offshore winds but was happy enough with his performance to joke about meeting his mate in their first encounter of the year.

"We always end up in the same heats overseas and then we come back here and get each other again but it is good to surf with him."

Both Stairmand and Christie have a national title each and will hope to match Jay Quinn who has two to his name. "Hopefully we make it through the early rounds and see each other in the final with one of us getting a second title" said Stairmand.

The man they are chasing, Jay Quinn (Gis), was in equally devastating form winning his heat despite a slow start. "It was a good result in the end but such a slow start for me. It was hard with the incoming tide and the wind" said Quinn.

"I haven't had a look who I have next but I know that Billy and Ric are on the other side of the draw so if I meet them at all it will be in the final" commented Quinn on his pending heats.

Of the locally based New Zealand surfers it was a resurgent Bobby Hansen (Gis) that made a successful three-heat comeback to move into the quarterfinals. Hansen has been battling injuries for much of his career and in 2011 succumbed to further surgery on his shoulder. However his form today suggests that he is at one hundred percent after surfing to the highest heat score of the day - 18.10 out of 20 points.

"It is definitely interesting not having competed for over a year" Hansen said. "I was super nervous in my first two heats, I guess from not surfing competitively for a while, but I am feeling better now for sure" he added.

Hansen is out to give the top seeds a run for their money conceding he is here for nothing other than to take out the title and that his injuries are well and truly behind him.

Hansen led a raft of top performances from the underdogs at the event. Raglan's Leon Santorik surfed well to win his heat as did Mount Maunganui based surfers Matt Hewitt, Tim O'Connor and Keone Campbell who all won their heats today.

Conditions for day four are expected to be good despite a drop in the swell size. Light variable winds are forecast. Day four will see the introduction of the women's and age group divisions. The Open and Under 18 Men's Division's will again be in the water.

Please see below for results from Day three of the 2012 Hyundai National Surfing Championships held at Piha Beach, Auckland today (Tuesday 17th January).

Open Men's Division Round 1
Heat 1
Bobby Hansen (Gis), 14, 1, Finn Forde-Lyon (Auck), 8.8, 2, Nat Baron (Auck), 7.9, 3
Heat 2
Paco Divers (Sandy Bay), 9.93, 1, Jules Craft (Gis), 8.77, 2, Zain Thompson (Piha), 5.57, 3
Heat 3
Simon Deken (Tara), 8.57, 1, Mike Banks (Rag), 8.5, 2, Vinicius De Oliveira Leite (Auck), 4.13, 3, Ben Connolly (Tara), 2.43, 4
Heat 4
Sean Kettle (Tara), 10, 1, Bevan Wiig (Auck), 6.17, 2, Josh Taylor (Tau), 5.1, 3
Heat 5
Mac Christie (Mnt), 7.53, 1, Danny Carse (Ota), 6.17, 2, Cody Mccusker (Chch) , 5.03, 3
Heat 6
Conan James (Tara), 9.93, 1, Jamie Andrews (Tara), 7.93, 2, Junior Matos (Auck), 7.57, 3, Jason Ruddell (Whngrei), 4.5, 4
Heat 7
Waretini Wano (Piha), 8.3, 1, Corey Asplin (Rag), 6.33, 2, Josh Kettle (Tara), 3.8, 3
Heat 8
Bachelor Tipene (Tara), 13.73, 1, Liam Joyce (Auck), 11.77, 2, Eli MacDonald (Tara), 7.27, 3, Sam Bound (Tara) , 2.03, 4

Open Men's Division Round 2
Heat 1
Bobby Hansen (Gis), 12.43, 1, Dune Kennings (Whmata), 10.8, 2, JC Susan (Mnt), 10.67, 3, Jules Craft (Gis), 8.9, 4
Heat 2
Paco Divers (Sandy Bay), 12.77, 1, Alex Dive (Mnt), 12.53, 2, Finn Forde-Lyon (Auck), 6.07, 3, AJ Matthews (Whmata), 3.97, 4
Heat 3
Simon Deken (Tara), 11.33, 1, Sean Peggs (Tairua), 10.6, 2, Bevan Wiig (Auck), 8, 3, Patxi Scott Arrieta (Sandy Bay), 2.63, 4
Heat 4
Matt Hewitt (Mnt), 14.5, 1, Mike Banks (Rag), 9.4, 2, Joe Moretti (Mimiwhangata), 8.5, 3, Sean Kettle (Tara), 8, 4
Heat 5
Scott Casey (Auck), 10.1, 1, Elliot Paerata Reid (Piha), 8, 2, Mac Christie (Mnt), 7.1, 3, Jamie Andrews (Tara), 3.7, 4
Heat 6
Deane Hishon (Rag), 10.07, 1, Conan James (Tara), 9.63, 2, Danny Carse (Ota), 9.27, 3, Scott Bell (Auck), 7.47, 4
Heat 7
Josh Thickpenny (Dun), 10.57, 1, Liam Joyce (Auck), 9.63, 2, Paul Moretti (Mimiwhangata), 6.97, 3, Waretini Wano (Piha), 6.87, 4
Heat 8
Bachelor Tipene (Tara), 10.8, 1, Ben Poulter (Rag), 10.2, 2, Rick Lasch (Piha), 8.43, 3, Corey Asplin (Rag), 5.3, 4

Open Men's Division Round 3
Heat 1
Bobby Hansen (Gis), 18.1, 1, Alex Dive (Mnt), 14.17, 2, Tane Wallis (Piha), 12.3, 3, Jarred Hancox (Tara), 9.87, 4
Heat 2
Leon Santorik (Rag), 14.6, 1, Matt Scorringe (Whmata), 13.73, 2, Dune Kennings (Whmata), 9.5, 3, Paco Divers (Sandy Bay), 9, 4
Heat 3
Richard Christie (Mahia), 14.57, 1, Billy Stairmand (Rag), 12.83, 2, Simon Deken (Tara), 5.23, 3, Mike Banks (Rag), 4.67, 4
Heat 4
Matt Hewitt (Mnt), 11.07, 1, Larry Fisher (Rag), 7.9, 2, Sean Peggs (Tairua), 7, 3, Luke Hughes (Rag), 5.38, 4
Heat 5
Jay Quinn (Gis), 12.43, 1, Scott Casey (Auck), 8.83, 2, Conan James (Tara), 7.33, 3, Adam Grimson (Gis), 6.87, 4
Heat 6
Ben Kennings (Whmata), 12.87, 1, Chris Malone (Gis), 11.77, 2, Elliot Paerata Reid (Piha), 10, 3, Deane Hishon (Rag), 3.2, 4
Heat 7
Tim O'Connor (Mnt), 14.83, 1, Zen Wallis (Piha), 12.5, 2, Ben Poulter (Rag), 10.7, 3, Josh Thickpenny (Dun), 6.53, 4
Heat 8
Keone Campbell (Tara), 11.77, 1, Ryan Hawker (Piha), 9.4, 2, Bachelor Tipene (Tara), 9.3, 3, Liam Joyce (Auck), 8.9, 4

The all encompassing seven day event runs from the 15th - 21st of January. Please see below for a guide to when remaining divisions are expected to be contested.

Day 4 (Wed 18th Jan) - Open Men, Under 18, 16, 14 Boys, All Women's, All Seniors
Day 5 (Thurs 19th Jan) - Open Men, Under 18, 16, 14 Boys, All longboard, SUP Surf, All Women's, All Seniors, Kneeboard
Day 6 (Fri 20th Jan) - Open Men, Under 18, 16, 14 Boys, All longboard, SUP Surf, All Women's, All Seniors, Potentially some finals
Day 7 (Sat 21st Jan) - Finals, All Bodyboard

The Hyundai National Championships were first held in 1963 when they took place at Mount Maunganui. In its infancy, the event comprised Open Men's and Women's as well as Under 18 Men's divisions only. Since then it has grown to comprise a colossal 25 divisions across all disciplines and the 2012 edition will crown New Zealand's 500th national champion.

Twenty five national titles will go up for grabs at the Hyundai National Championships. As well as the premier Open Men's and Open Women's Divisions, there will be a further 23 divisions comprising of age groups from Under 14 through to Over 50s and also longboard, Stand Up Paddleboard, Bodyboard and Kneeboard disciplines.