April 22nd 2014: Competitive spirit

“We travel here for this event every year,” offers Zen Wallis with a warm grin. His brother, Tane, chimes in, “it’s one of our favourite contests.”

Zen (22) and Tane (19) are from Piha and joined Maz Quinn, of Gisborne, and a swarm of talented surfers from throughout the South Island on the beaches of Dunedin this past Easter as they competed for the South Island Surfing Championship.

“There are always great waves and the people are so friendly,” offered Tane as he dried off after his first heat.

The contest encountered three days of amazing surf with upsets from the start with local favourites JC Susan getting knocked out in the first round and Josh Thickpenny also bowing out early.

But the final of the Open Men’s was one of the most exhilarating yet.

Maz Quinn and Tane Wallis had gone head-to-head throughout the final when a set lurched across the horizon in the dying minutes. Maz picked up the first wave and destroyed it with his powerful, precision turns, riding it all the way to the beach content that he had clinched the title. However, the second wave was equally as good and Tane dropped in and found his way in and out of a long, warping barrel to score a perfect 10 – taking the title from Maz.

“It was one of the most intense finals I have ever seen in a surf contest,” offered Grant Godbaz, who was helping to run the event.

Other standouts included Dunedin surfer Hayley Coakes, who never faulted all weekend to claim the Open Women’s title. In the Under 14 boys', local surfer Jack Mcleod proved he’s one to keep an eye on, while Christchurch surfer Rory Edwards continued to prove his dominance in the South Island winning the Under 17 title. Fellow Cantabrian Harrison Whiteside also showed his skill in beating open men’s champ Tane Wallis in the Under 20s final.

As you read this report Box of Light is heading to Cairns, Australia, to cover the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup and to explore the rainforest, beaches and reefs of Tropical North Queensland. Oh yeah, adventure here we come …

See you in the rainforest …

Derek