Surfing: Paul Moretti makes his way to national semifinals

Paul Moretti has made his way to the semifinals of the Open Men's Division at the Health 2000 National Surfing Championships. Photo / NZ Surfing Magazine

Northlander Paul Moretti has made his mark felt at the Health 2000 National Surfing Championships by taking down a multiple-time champion.

Five-time defending champion Billy Stairmand, from Raglan, 2017 runner-up Taylor Hutchison, also of Raglan, and perennial local favourite Maz Quinn all succumbed on an eventful day.

Moretti and Levi Stewart (Waihi Beach) claimed the scalp of Stairmand. Moretti won the quarter-final with a score of 11.07, fending off Stewart (10.63) and the former champion (10.4).

"It was awesome surfing with Levi in that heat, we have competed all through the junior ranks and it was awesome to get the opportunity to make it through to the semifinals together," Moretti said.

It is Moretti's first domestic event in several months and he admitted to nerves being a factor but hopes to surf those out over the coming days of the event.

During the heat stage, the Mimiwhangata competitor put in a determined performance as he took on Piha's Zen Wallis, Mt Maunganui's Kaya Horne and Henry Hawke of Christchurch.

Moretti picked his moments well to secure second position in the heat, putting him through to the quarter-finals of the premier event with a score of 10.3.

Wallis took out the heat comfortably with a score of 15.2, the third best score off the day.

Meanwhile, Manu Scott-Arrieta of Sandy Bay was unable to progress further in the competition after finishing last in the third heat.

His score of 6.73 was well off the leading mark in the heat, won by Gisborne's Damon Gunness with 12.83.

In the Under 16 Boys' Division, Whangarei's Tom Robinson showed he's a good chance of a top finish with a win in the heats to advance through to the quarter-finals.

The swell is expected to drop for day three of the event and it is likely that it will be moved to Makorori. The senior men's divisions will enter the water for the first time. There is a good chance that the Open Men's and Women's Divisions will be contested again on day three.

The event runs along the Gisborne coastline from 7th – 13th January.

The Health 2000 National Surfing Championships forms the first leg of the 2018 New Zealand Surf Series.

In the 54-year history of the event the Health 2000 National Surfing Championships has grown to encompass 29 divisions spread across all disciplines and age groups from Under 14 through to Over 60 for males and females, longboard, kneeboard, and paddleboard.

More than 300 entries have been received for the event.