Malone shows his class

STANDOUT: Former Gisborne surfer Chris Malone, now of Raglan, was the standout surfer in the over-28 men’s division at the national championships at Piha yesterday. Cory/NZ Surfing Magazine picture

FORMER Gisborne surfer Chris Malone was the standout surfer at the national championships at Piha yesterday.

It was a short day of surfing yesterday, as the nationals headed towards a big finish and the large swell that forecast to pummel the coastline over the last two days of the event.

For the entire week, a big Southern Ocean storm has been brewing in the Tasman and the forecast has been for a two- to three-metre swell to hit Piha today and tomorrow.

The expected improved conditions will have the premier open men’s and women’s divisions in the water for the first time in four days as they resume their campaigns towards the national titles.

Raglan’s Billy Stairmand and Whangamata’s Ella Williams will resume their title defences, as will Dunedin’s Elliot Brown and Mt Maunganui’s Elin Tawharu in the under-18 divisions.

Today’s conditions were also expected to bring about the conclusion of the stand-up paddleboard divisions, with the likes of Raglan’s Daniel Kereopa and Auckland’s Ollie Houghton taking to the water.

Only eight heats in the senior divisions were completed yesterday in one-metre waves that were affected by a north-west wind.

Malone, the 1998 national champion who grew up in Gisborne and now lives in Raglan, was outstanding in the over-28 men’s division.

He rode to a 14.0-point total to advance to the final of the division where he will face Jarred Hancox (Taranaki), Alan Te Moananui (Kaikoura) and Jeremy Grainger (Taranaki).

Malone also advanced to the final of the o35 division, but this time was runner-up in his heat to Marc Moore (Auckland), who looked impressive surfing to a 14.0-point heat total.

They will contest the final along with defending champion Jarred Hancox (Taranaki) and Chris Fougere (Piha).

Gisborne surfer Sean Hovell reached the o28 division semifinals, finishing fourth in the heat won by Malone.