Quinn Jumps to 52nd In World as Kiwis Find Success On World Stage

Jay Quinn (Gis) has jumped up twenty places to 52nd in the world after an impressive ninth placing at the Mr Price Pro held at Ballito, South Africa over the weekend.

Quinn was ousted from the event by the eventual winner Glenn Hall (IRE) but walked away with 2400 points toward his world ranking and $4,300 (USD) in prize money.

Quinn dominated the early part of the event winning his first two heats before placing second in the 'No Losers' round. He then defeated Sebastien Zietz (HAW) in Round 4. Quinn also defeated surfers from Australia, France, South Africa, USA and Brazil.

Up against Hall, Quinn struggled to find the right waves and after racking up multiple low scoring rides, finished with a heat total of 7.40 to Hall's 11.34.

Quinn was the highest placed Kiwi surfer at the event with Billy Stairmand (Rag) and Richard Christie (Gis) finishing 37th and 49th respectively.

Quinn finished the 2011 Association of Surfing World Tour in 41st place and the highest of all Kiwi surfers. The last six months of 2012 sees back-to-back events for Quinn to climb up the ratings further. The top 32 surfers in on the ratings qualify for the World Championship Tour (WCT).

Four New Zealand surfers, Quinn, along with Stairmand, Christie and Matt Hewitt (Mnt) contest the next event of the tour at Jefferies Bay, South Africa starting tonight. The surf is expected to pump for the start of the event which will have all four surfers excited given they are all natural footers. The Billabong Pro has been the domain of the elite 32 surfers on the World Championship Tour until this year when the event became part of the second tier World Qualifying Series (WQS).

Meanwhile Paige Hareb (Tara) and Sarah Mason (Gis) will both contest the Roxy Pro held at Biarritz, France starting tonight. Hareb is the highest ranked of the two girls in tenth place. Hareb faces current ratings leader Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) and Jacqueline Silva (BRA) in her first round match up. Mason, ranked 13th, will contest the first heat of the day against Courtney Conlogue (USA) and Coco Ho (HAW).

In Australia, New Zealand's top young surfers have been contesting the Skull Candy Oz Grom Open at Lennox Heads, New South Wales. Kehu Butler (Mnt) was again the top performing grommet this time claiming first place in the Under 12 Boys Division today (Tuesday 10th July).

The final day of the event saw conditions deteriorate somewhat to 0.5m - 1.0m from the perfection they scored over the weekend but that didn't stop Butler who dominated the final scoring 8.0 points on his first wave and backing that up with a 7.75 on his second, exiting the water to a fine haka from the Kiwis present.

Dune Kennings (WGM) and Elliot Paerata - Reid (Piha) also surfed in the Under 16 Boys Division at the event with Kennings placing fifth and Paerata - Reid seventh.