Gisborne teenager advances in U16 and open divisions at surfing nationals

Gisborne's Jay Quinn in action at the national surfing championships at Makorori Beach. Quinn delivered an almost perfect performance in his Round 1 heat of the open men's division on Wednesday. Photo / PhotoCPL

Local surfers delivered some creditable performances to advance from Round 2 heats in the U16 and open men’s divisions of the national surfing championships in Gisborne today.

Conditions were described as “small and testing” on the low tide in the morning, but improved considerably in the afternoon, although competition was stopped for a lightning storm at one stage.

Gisborne’s Jaxon Pardoe, who won the U14 boys’ title last year, got through the first two rounds of the U16 boys in the morning, winning his heats with scores of 13.27 and 13.33 to advance to the quarter-finals.

No Gisborne surfers made the U14 girls’ and boys’ finals.

Nell Alder and Madeline Smith were eliminated in the U14 girls’ semi-finals.

Lenny Quinn was third in his semi-final of the U14 boys’ division. The top two from each semi go through.

In Round 2 of the open men’s division, Gisborne’s Damon Gunness, the champion at Raglan in 2002, was second with a best-two-waves total.

Pardoe also surfed in the open division and made his way through to the next round with a 12.90 total.

Johnny Hicks kept the Gizzy charge going with a heat win from a 14.33 total, including an 8.50 ride.

Nick White led his heat early with a 6.17 wave, lost it briefly, grabbed it back with a 7.0, then lost it again to finish second on 13.17.

Four-time open champion Maz Quinn bowed out of the competition after finishing fourth in his heat.

His younger brother Jay, a two-time open winner, easily won the last heat of the round with a 15.23 total, having lit up Round 1 on Wednesday with a sensational 19.17 total from 9.50 and 9.67 waves.