Surfing: Kiwi nears grand final

Ben Poulter wins his heat at Piha yesterday to advance to the final round of the world junior surfing championships. Photo / Cory Scott

Young Kiwi surfer Ben Poulter is just two great waves away from making the grand final at the ISA junior world surfing championships at Piha today.

In an eventful fifth round heat in the main draw of the under-16 boys' division yesterday, Poulter overcame a foot injury and, arguably, the biggest name in junior surfing to advance through to the sixth and final round.

Poulter (13.06) was edged by Japan's Hiroti Arai (14.16) in their three-man heat but managed to progress at the expense of highly-rated American Kolohe Andino (10.70).

One of only four unbeaten surfers remaining in the competition, Poulter will advance straight through to the grand final if he finishes in the top two of today's final-round heat. Should he fail to do so, the Raglan teen still has an extra life up his rash vest via the repechage rounds.

Poulter, who has already exceeded his own expectations for the event, said he was "absolutely stoked" with his performance yesterday after a rusty nail almost derailed his campaign.

Two minutes before he was due to take to the surf for his fifth-round heat, the 15-year-old badly gouged his foot on the top of a nail as he was leaving the team tent. With no time to seek proper medical attention, Poulter limped off in to the water with his foot haphazardly bandaged up by a team official.

He said the last-minute drama initially took its toll, with fairly ordinary scores posted on his opening waves. But he managed to bounce back and edged past Andino with two solid runs of 6.30 and 6.76.

"I was spewing, I was freaking out, but I tried not to let it affect me too much out there," he said.

"It was pretty sore, but I just put it behind me and tried my hardest and it all paid off."

What also paid off was a gutsy call made before his heat to surf the left-hand break out by the bar. With his two rivals surfing over 100m down the beach in front of the main tower, the decision could have been disastrous had the waves not come his way. It also meant Poulter could not protect his lead by engaging in a paddle battle if the scoring became tight.

He conceded it was a bit of a gamble, but a calculated one.

"Everyone has been surfing straight in front of the podium on the right-hander and that's where they were getting the scores and no one was surfing the bar, but I just went straight to the bar because it looked good for me.

"I saw a couple of good waves before my heat and the left-hand break suits me, coming from Raglan."

Poulter's win over Andino was one of the major upsets on day seven of the championships. With a swag of high-profile sponsors to his name, the US surfer is easily the highest-paid competitor in Auckland.

It's a scalp Poulter is chuffed to claim. "I can't believe it, I'd have to say it was a bit of a fluke but I'll take it."

Joining Poulter on the final day of the competition is Sarah Mason, 14, who produced her most convincing performance of the competition yesterday to win her sudden-death repechage round five under 18 girls' heat.

Enjoying the clean conditions on Auckland's west coast, Mason recorded a score of 12.60 for her combined two best waves to edge out American Lakey Peterson (11.16). The Aussie-based Kiwi is just two heats away from a potential final today.

Mt Maunganui's Alex Dive was eliminated yesterday after finishing third in his round six repechage heat in the under 18 boys' division.