Sweet and sour day for Vette

MIXED FORTUNES: Finn Vette was eliminated in the semifinals of the under-18 division yesterday, but earlier in the day he had surfed his way to the final of the u16 boys’ division at the national surfing championships. Cory/NZ Surfing Magazine picture

SURFING

GISBORNE surfer Finn Vette had a bitter-sweet day at the national surfing championships in Taranaki yesterday.

He was knocked out of the under-18 division in the semifinals but will contest the u16 final today after winning his semifinal heat.

New Zealand’s elite surfers were set to contest the open finals at the national championships today after two lay days.

While surfers such as Ricardo Christie (Mahia/Gisborne), Billy Stairmand (Raglan) and Elliot Paerata-Reid (Piha) have been resting, other surfers across the 29 divisions have been feverishly hunting podium finishes.

Competition yesterday was held at Stent Road, with one-metre swell and light onshore winds providing the platform to crown four champions and determine four more sets of finalists.

The under-18 boys’ semifinals were intensely fought, with high scores across the board.

Whakatane surfer Jack Lee continued to impress. He and Hamilton’s Caleb Cutmore won through the first semifinal at the expense of Taylor O’Leary (Muriwai) and Jacob Saunders (Mt Maunganui).

In the second semifinal, Tom Robinson (Whangarei) and Tom Carter (Waihi Beach) overcame Luke Griffin (Mnt) and Gisborne’s Vette in the battle of the goofy-footers.

Vette had earlier advanced through to the final of the u16 boys’ division along with Navryn Malone (Raglan), Tom Butland (Taranaki) and Tom Robinson.

On the final day of the event, Robinson will contest both junior division finals.

Navryn Malone’s father, 1998 national champion and former Gisborne resident Chris, yesterday won his over-35 semifinal heat.

The bodyboard division was reintroduced this week after a break since 2010. Three-time champion Adrian Bray (Piha) wound back the years for the win with a 13.9-point heat total. His last title win was in 1992.

Kelvin Weir (Opunake) claimed his third title in the kneeboard division, defeating defending champion Craig McDonald (Auckland) in the process.

Late in the afternoon, Geoff Hutchison (Rag) won the over-45 men’s division final on his last wave. He posted a 5.47-point ride to nudge past Darren Kiwi (Mnt) with a 12.47-point heat total.

Chris Blain won the over-50 men’s division final to ensure local surfers were well represented on the winners’ podium, It was the fourth title for the region at these championships.

Today is the final day of the event. Open men and women were to surf semifinals and finals, and eight other finals were to be held.

The surf was expected to peak last night and fade throughout the day with light south-east winds.

Results from yesterday —

Under-16 boys, semifinals, Heat 1: Finn Vette (Gisborne) 12.87, 1; Navryn Malone (Raglan) 11.13, 2; James Millar (Christchurch) 10.8, 3.

Heat 2: Tom Butland (Taranaki) 15.17, 1; Tom Robinson (Whangarei) 13, 2; Kora Cooper (Rag) 9.6, 3.

U18 boys, quarterfinals, Heat 1: Jacob Saunders (Mt Maunganui) 15.7, 1; Taylor O’Leary (Muriwai) 11.43, 2; Alex O’Dwyer (Whakatane) 11.06, 3; Tom Butland (Tara) 9.97, 4.

Heat 2: Jack Lee (Whaka) 14.66, 1; Caleb Cutmore (Hamilton) 10.5, 2; Kora Cooper (Rag) 10.37, 3; Jacob Buckle (Whngrei) 9.73, 4.

Heat 3: Finn Vette (Gis) 15.34, 1; Thomas Carter (Waihi Beach) 10.37, 2; Ruben Peyroux (Dunedin) 10, 3; Jackson Peak (Auckland) 8.6, 4.

Heat 4: Luke Griffin (Mnt) 14.07, 1; Tom Robinson (Whngrei) 12.77, 2; Josef Jungwirth (Rag) 9.8, 3; Corban Grainger (Tara) 4.03, 4.

Semifinals, Heat 1: Jack Lee (Whaka) 13.03, 1; Caleb Cutmore (Ham) 13, 2; Taylor O’Leary (Mur) 12.63, 3; Jacob Saunders (Mnt) 9.4, 4.

Heat 2: Tom Robinson (Whngrei) 14.1, 1; Thomas Carter (Waihi Bch) 12.9, 2; Luke Griffin (Mnt) 12.8, 3; Finn Vette (Gis) 12.33, 4.

Over-35 men, semifinals, Heat 1: Chris Malone (Rag) 12.5, 1; Jeremy Curd (Tara) 11.63, 2; Danny Kaweroa (Tara) 10.4, 3; Kani Haig (Gis) 6.7, 4.

Heat 2: Luke Kerr (Tara) 15.9, 1; Dwaine Mataa (Tara) 10.63, 2; Jarred Hancox (Tara) 10.3, 3; Manu Schafer (Tara) 9.37, 4.

Over-40 men, semifinals, Heat 1: Manu Schafer (Tara) 12.77, 1; Alan Te Moananui (Chch) 9.8, 2; Deane Hishon (Rag) 9.4, 3; Ben Kennings (Whmata) 4.67, 4.

Heat 2: Dwaine Mataa (Tara) 14.6, 1; Jamie Andrews (Tara) 12.84, 2; Patrick Braithwaite (Gis) 7.4, 3; Shaun Coffey (Tara) 5.2, 4.

Over-45 men, final: Geoff Hutchison (Rag) 12.47, 1; Darren Kiwi (Mnt) 12.07, 2; Patrick Braithwaite (Gis) 8.6, 3; Deane Hishon (Rag) 5.67, 4.

Over-50 men, final: Chris Blain (Tara) 14.2, 1; Brian Young (Auck) 12.3, 2; Andrew Mann (Auck) 7.87, 3; Geoff Hutchison (Rag) 3.23, 4.

Kneeboard, semifinals, Heat 1: Craig McDonald (Auck) 12.37, 1; Kenton Osmond (Mur) 10.53, 2; Zen Wallis (Piha) 7.56, 3; Craig Hooper (Mnt) 7.27, 4.

Heat 2: Kelvin Weir (Tara) 14.33, 1; Tracey Skelton (Tara) 8.67, 2; Steve Croton (Tara) 6.4, 3; Gary Sawyer (Foxton) 4.26, 4.

Final: Kelvin Weir (Tara) 13.9, 1; Kenton Osmond (Mur) 11.2, 2; Tracey Skelton (Tara) 8.06, 3; Craig McDonald (Auck) 7.03, 4.

Open bodyboard, Round 1, Heat 1: Adrian Coutts (Tara) 7.4, 1; Adrian Bray (Piha) 7, 2; Matiu Adams (Tara) 6.34, 3; Marguerite Vujcich (Hawke’s Bay) 4.6, 4.

Heat 2: Rangi Bisson (Tara) 13, 1; Gareth Collins (Tara) 12.9, 2; Rah Paewai (Tara) 5, 3; Dana Adams (Tara) 2, 4.

Heat 3: Michael Dromgool (Tara) 12.8, 1; Jeremy Stark (Tara) 12.4, 2; Kurt Bullot (Australia) 9.33, 3; Nick Enstrom (Mnt) 7.24, 4.

Semifinals, Heat 1: Adrian Bray (Piha) 16.6, 1; Gareth Collins (Tara) 9.46, 2; Rangi Bisson (Tara) 9.23, 3.

Heat 2: Jeremy Stark (Tara) 11.8, 1; Michael Dromgool (Tara) 9.03, 2; Adrian Coutts (Tara) 7.33, 3.

Final: Adrian Bray (Piha) 13.9, 1; Gareth Collins (Tara) 9.83, 2; Jeremy Stark (Tara) 7.2, 3; Michael Dromgool (Tara) 5.6, 4.