Winning start for Christie as he chases return to top tier

Scene at a recent Pantin Classic. Picture supplied

A PULSING swell gave Gisborne-Mahia surfer Ricardo Christie the waves he needed to win his first heat in the Pantin Classic Galicia Pro in Spain.

On the second day of competition, the northern Atlantic started producing three-to-five foot surf, with occasional bigger sets.

Gold Coast-based Christie made the most of the conditions, winning his round 2 four-man heat with a two-wave total of 15.27, including the heat’s highest single wave score of 7.67.

Brazil’s Michael Rodrigues also progressed in second with 12.80 while Portugal’s Pedro Henrique (12.23) and American Jake Marshall (5.07) were eliminated.

The World Surf League Qualifying Series (QS) event offers the winner a valuable 6000 points towards qualification for the 2018 elite Championship Tour.

Heading in the final third of the 2017 series, competition is heating up, with many CT surfers on the cusp of re-qualification looking to guarantee their spots through the QS.

At the end of the year the top 10 QS surfers qualify for the 2018 CT.

Christie is in 11th place on 10,500 points, including 5200 points from his US Open fifth placing and 3000 for his win at the Martinique Pro.

Only a surfer’s top five results count so Christie will need three more big results to secure a place in the 2018 CT.

He made the CT in 2015 but, despite a few solid results, he was not able to retain his place and has been bidding to return through the QS since.

Christie will likely surf his round 3 heat tonight. He faces top QS surfer Jesse Mendes of Brazil, Spaniard Gony Zubizarreta and Peru’s Miguel Tudela.

Fellow Kiwi surfer Billy Stairmand was knocked out in round 1.