NZ surfers improve world rankings

New Zealand surfers Richard Christie and Billy Stairmand have charged up the world rankings after good results at a second tire competition in the United States.

Raglan's Stairmand finished third at this morning's (NZt) Cold Water Classic at Santa Cruz, California, to move from 97th to 66th while Christie, who was ninth, is 53rd, up 13 spots.

The Santa Cruz event was a 6-Star prime event, which is a tier down from the world tour.

They are now the highest ranked New Zealanders on the world tour since Gisborne's Maz Quinn placed seventh on the world qualifying series in 2001.

Gisborne's Jay Quinn finished 49th at Santa Cruz and now has a world ranking of 102.

The three surfers now head to the Canary Islands for a another prime event.

- NZPA