Jay Quinn back in NZ big time

Going vertical: Gisborne surfer Jay Quinn carving waves during the men's final of the Gisborne Boardriders Club competition last year. His return to competition was rewarded by making it through to the semifinals of the Backdoor King and Queen of the Point.Picture by Don Pearson Photography

Gisborne surfer Jay Quinn celebrated his return to major New Zealand competition by progressing to the semifinals of the Backdoor King and Queen of the Point at Manu Bay, Raglan, yesterday.

The talent-laden fields were whittled down to the final four surfers in the women's division and six surfers in the men's division.

Participants relished the chance to attack perfect one-metre to 1.5-metre waves. Conditions stayed groomed all day, thanks to a light offshore wind.

Local knowledge always comes to the fore at Raglan and yesterday was no different, with the day's top performers all calling Raglan home.

Luke Cederman topscored for the first day, scoring 16.83 out of a possible 20 points, obliterating his final heat of the day to advance to the semifinals using his aggressive forehand power carves.

“I'm more exhausted than happy about that performance and three heats today,” Cederman said.

“It is good to beat the grommets though, and it's quite nostalgic surfing against Quinny after competing against him for at least 20 years.”

He was referring to his match-up with Quinn, who was surfing in a major New Zealand event for the first time in a decade following his return from overseas. Both Cedarman and Quinn advanced at the expense of Zen Wallis (Piha) and Tyler Perry (Kaikoura).

Billy Stairmand followed suit in the next heat, scoring pocket sevens on his two best waves to move through with Jarred Hancox (Taranaki).

Stairmand recently arrived home from South Africa and has spent less than four weeks in New Zealand this year while competing on the WSL Challenger Series. Stairmand will take off for California next week for the US Open of Surfing.

“It is always good to come home and refresh, and this event happened to fall during my time home,” Stairmand said.

“It is always good to compete and see all the guys from around the country and share stories. The event wasn't something I anticipated while home, so it is a bonus.

“I want more than pocket sevens tomorrow. The waves are pumping. It's tricky to pick the right ones but if you get them, you get the right scores.”

The youngest of the local surfers to advance was 18-year-old Kora Cooper, who won the final heat of the day in fading light on dusk. Cooper got off to a quick start in the final, posting a 13.14-point heat total within the first eight minutes. It was a lead that never looked in doubt until a 7.17 from fellow local Caleb Cutmore that advanced him into the semifinals alongside Cooper.

Ella Williams made a return to competition in the open women's division and ended the day with a 14.70-point heat total to advance to the final. The three heats of the day were Williams's first since she took a break from the competition arena after the Tokyo Olympics a year ago.

When the finals hit the water, she will be up against Natasha Gouldsbury (Taranaki), Estella Hungerford (Christchurch) and Brie Bennett (Raglan).

Today, the junior age-group divisions were to enter the water for the first time and, should conditions permit, the men's and women's divisions could be surfed through to completion.

The swell forecast was looking strong enough for Day 2 to be held at Manu Bay with a fading one-metre swell and offshore winds predicted.

The Backdoor King and Queen of the Point is an SNZ3000 event and, with $15,000 in prize money, it is the richest event of the year, with maximum national ranking points on offer.