The third and final event of the 2010 Northland Scholastics Surfing Series was held in pristine 1.5-2m waves at "The Power Station" in Ruakaka. After a stormy Saturday night on the Mangawhai coast, contest organisers decided the 3-4m swell on offer at Mangawhai Heads was far from ideal and the eventwas relocated to The Power Station in Ruakaka. Contestants were greeted on Sunday by solid head-high-plus waves with perfect offshores and amazing banks. In the Bodyboard Division it was brothers Regan and Dayne Williams from Whangarei Boys' High School, who battled it out in the fun waves on offer. Both surfed some good long rides, but it was Dayne who took the win. In the under-14 division, Bream Bay College's Mathew Jensen showed good local knowledge in his early heats, while Kaitaia College's Flynn Cribb continued his good form making it into the finals. Kerikeri High's Joe Palmer picked off some of the more solid waves on offer, but it was Matt McGregor from Kamo High School who dominated the punchy conditions taking out his age division. The under-16 boys' division really showcased the up and coming talent in Northland surfing ranks with Jack Tracey and Fraser Seymour. The WBHS duo rode some good, high scoring waves in the final. But it was the continued dominance of Sandy Bay's Paxti Scott-Arietta, from Kamo High, who took out the division. Scott-Arietta smashed every wave to come his way and will be a sure bet for the 2010 Northland Team. The under-18 division made up for what it lacked in numbers - there were only three surfers - by all competitors putting on powerful displays. Alex Seymour (WGBH) picked off some long left handers in the final, surfing them with style. Kamo's Darcy Bowden shredded a couple of punchy rights to the beach but it was Louie Smith from Rodney College, who took out the final with his blend of fast, fluid forehand surfing and loose back hand re-entries. The 2010 Northland team to contest the National Scholastics in Gisborne during October, will be named in mid July when the overall results from the three events in the Northland Scholastic Series are tallied.
