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Posted on Sunday January 24th 2010 at 7:55 p.m.
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Piha continued to turn on adverse conditions for the best young surfers in the world with 1.0m - 1.5m waves and westerly winds. The decrease in swell did allow the Under 18 Girls Division to enter the water for the first time at the event. The New Zealand girls recorded some excellent heat wins with two of the four surfers moving through to the last 16 in the qualifying rounds.
Jayda Martin - Fitzharris (Gis) surfed to an 8.65 point heat total holding off the French surfer in the dying stages of the heat who scored a 4.0 point ride, 0.16 points short of the score required to progress.
"Yeah I am really stoked" said Martin - Fitzharris of her afternoon performance. "I didn't have a good one this morning but I won the hard heat this afternoon which was great."
The wait only put a "small amount of pressure" on the young Gisborne surfer but she is clearly more focused on her upcoming match up. "I was pretty nervous this morning but couldn't wait to start - it has been three days of hanging around supporting the rest of the team. I have a solid heat tomorrow but I can't wait to get back out there" said Martin - Fitzharris.
Alexis Poulter (Rag) was the other team member to progress clocking up 10.20 points to win her heat.
Sarah Mason. Image by ISA / Cory Scott
Both Sarah Mason and Grace Spiers (WGM) found the going tough with the incoming tide and were relegated to the repechage rounds late in the day.
The Under 18 Boys surfed to a mixed bag of results. JC Susan (Mnt) progressed through two heats - his last by a mere 0.05 points.
"Yeah the conditions are real hard, real rippy, a whole lot of close-outs. Everyone is hassling so it comes down to who gets the first waves and holds the lead" said Susan. "I can't wait to get back on the [Piha] bar at the first podium - it is so much fun out there compared to the second podium."
Johnny Hicks (Gis) also surfed to second place in a close heat, managing to progress through to Repechage Round 3. Hicks has a tight third round match up against David Brand (ZAF) and Wade Carmichel (AUS) which is likely to take place tomorrow. Hicks is another goofy foot surfer that will relish the move to the main podium on day 5.
Late in the day Tane Wallis surfed through to the third round of the Under 16 Boys Division scoring 13.25 to win his heat. Wallis, who is contesting the repechage rounds, will have a couple of big days ahead if he is to get through to the latter rounds of the event.
Unfortunately the Kiwi's lost three surfers throughout the day. Blake Myers (WGM) placed third in his heat to Ezekiel Lau (Haw) and Santiago Muniz (ARG). Myers finished the event placed 37th overall.
Elliot Paerata - Reid (Piha) placed fourth in his last heat of the day and was also eliminated from the event. Paerata had a tough time in the poor conditions on the second podium and placed 46th overall. Adam Grimson (Gis) suffered the same fate in the previous round finishing third in his heat and 55th overall.
Day five of the 2010 Quiksilver ISA World Junior Surfing Championship will see all nine Kiwis in action. The order of events is as follows:
Podium 1
Under 18 Boys Qualify Round 3 (Alex Dive @ 8.20am)
Under 16 Boys Qualify Round 3 (Ben Poulter @ 10.30am)
Under 18 Boys Repechage Round 3 (JC Susan @ 1.00pm, Johnny Hicks @ 1.40pm)
Under 16 Boys Repechage Round 3 (Tane Wallis @ 3.20pm)
Podium 2
Under 18 Girls Repechage Round 1 (N/A)
Under 18 Girls Repechage Round 2 (Grace Spiers @ 12.30pm, Sarah Mason @ 12.50pm)
Under 18 Girls Qualify Round 3 (Alexis Poulter @ 1.30pm, Jayda Martin Fitzharris @ 1.50pm)
Under 18 Girls Repechage Round 3 (tbc)
Surfing will commence at 8.00am on both podiums and run through until 4.00pm in the afternoon.
Make sure you check out the action live on www.isaworldjuniors.com.
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