News
Giant seas test star surf athletes
Saturday, 23 February 2013George Haynes will be a man on a mission today as the Sonic Surf Race series heads towards an exciting conclusion at the Oceans 13 New Zealand under-14 surf lifesaving championships in Mount Maunganui.
The English surf lifesaving representative, based at the Mount Maunganui club over summer, took out the first of three ironman rounds in spectacular 3m surf yesterday.
"It was really full-on - there were some big swells coming through," Haynes said. "There wasn't much of a drift but the sets were just non-stop. You just had to be sensible and patient."
Haynes headed home Lyall Bay's Tyler Maxwell, with both athletes displaying fantastic surf riding skills in negotiating the carnage, with Omanu 16-year-old Ben Cochrane third.
Papamoa 18-year-old Kathryn Stewart, meanwhile, upstaged her star clubmate Natalie Peat to win the women's first round, not only overcoming the gigantic waves but some self-doubt too.
"In my warm-up on my board, I didn't even get out," Stewart admitted. "I definitely had my doubts when I saw the size of it. In the last leg, I just wanted to get out there without losing my ski and get out the back, then it kind of opened up."
Another eliminator round will be held this morning, with the grand final scheduled for this afternoon.
Round 1 results:
Men: George Hanes (Mount Maunganui) 1, Tyler Maxwell (Lyall Bay) 3, Ben Cochrane (Omanu) 3, Michael Bryant (Papamoa) 4, Perry Farrell (Mount Maunganui) 5, Hamish Treanor (Mount Maunganui) 6, Andrew Newton (Mount Maunganui) 7, Julien Lalanne (Mount Maunganui) 8, Ben Johnston (Papamoa) 9, Sam Shergold (Mount Maunganui) DQ (eliminated).
Women: Kathryn Stewart (Papamoa) 1, Natalie Peat (Papamoa) 2, Katie Wilson (Mount Maunganui) 3, Danielle McKenzie (Mairangi Bay) 4, Karly Maxwell (Lyall Bay) 5, Kirsty Wannan (Piha) 6, Ashley Cochrane (Omanu) 7, Kelsey Moffatt (Lyall Bay) 8, Jess Miller (Mount Maunganui) 9 (eliminated).