Whangarei's Wini Paul made the most of stormy conditions on the New South Wales coast last week to surf into the final of the Billabong Occy's competition.
The age-group surfing competition was one of two big Australian competitions held over the last ten days and attended by a team of more
than 20 young Kiwi surfers.
The storms that ravaged the New South Wales coastline played havoc with both events causing the final of Occys competition to be delayed until Wednesday and the second event, the Rusty Gromfest to run an extra day finishing on Tuesday.
The New Zealand surfers must have been suited to the big conditions as they achieved several outstanding results _ especially at the Occy's competition at Duranbah.
Paul qualified for the Billabong final behind eventual winner 14-year-old Sally Fitzgibbons, who made it a clean sweep by adding the Rusty Grom Fest title to her tally a few days later at Lennox Heads.
Tugan surfer Tiana Mcneven also surfed well in the final, scoring a strong two wave total of 13.50 to push Paul into third, ahead of Kirra Townsend.
The other Kiwi to really impress in the competition was Piha's Ryan Hawker, who placed third in the under-14 boys division.
Hawker was touted as the surfer to beat throughout the event, and posted a perfect 10-point ride in his semifinal before coming up a little short of the win in the final.
Piha's Tane Wallis was the other finalist from the New Zealand team, finishing fourth in the under-12 competition.
The Kiwi highlight at the Rusty Gromfest competition at Lennox Heads was Mathis Smith finishing fourth in the under-14 boys division.
On his way to the final Smith upset Hawker in the quarterfinals.
Whangamata's Grace Spiers placed second in the under-12 girls division, ahead of under-16 star Airini Mason's younger sister Sarah, who finished fourth.
