Gisborne's Jay Quinn emerged as the as the man to beat during the quarter-finals at the national surfing championships in Auckland yesterday.
The defending champion produced an 18.25 point heat score in his quarter-final to head off Raglan's Daniel Kereopa although both surfers moved through to the semifinals.
Quinn looked unstoppable in the 1m swell, first scoring a 9.20 point ride for two huge turns on one wave.
After initially thinking he had broken his board, Quinn returned to shore before realising his board was fine. He turned around and scored another 9.0 point ride - the best performance seen in the week-long championships to date.
"It was good to get over the first heat I surfed and get my comp legs on," Quinn said.
Prior to his heat he witnessed the biggest upset of the championships, when older brother Maz lost out to fellow Gisborne surfers Chris Malone and Blair Stewart.
"I got a bit more pumped after Maz got knocked. I wanted to make sure I got through because he was one of the favourites and was gunning for five titles."
Being defending champion isn't playing on Quinn's mind heading into the semifinals against Kereopa, Stewart and Malone.
"I am just taking the comp like I am going for the title, not defending it."
Three of the five Raglan surfers in the quarter-finals progressed - Kereopa, Leon Santorik and Luke Hughes.
Santorik surfed in the lowest scoring heat of the round but managed to sneak a win despite scoring just 10.5.
The men's longboard division was down to the final eight yesterday, with Auckland's Thomas Kibblewhite posting the top score of 15.25.
- NZPA
