November 4th 2014: Maz Quinn

In 2001 Maz Quinn finished 7th on the World Qualifying Series (WQS) and became the first Kiwi to qualify for the World Championship Tour (WCT). He is New Zealand’s most successful surfer and by the end of the year we may see our second Kiwi make the elite ranks of the world’s best with Richard Christie, of Mahia, sitting in 13th in the WQS for 2014, just three spots off entry to 2015’s World Surf League (WSL) heading into the final rounds in Hawaii.

We caught up with Maz in his hometown of Gisborne this past week and asked him why it has taken so long for another Kiwi surfer to qualify.

“I just had a magical year,” he shares. “It’s not always the best surfer that makes the cut, it’s the most determined – the guy who wants it the most and gets a bit of a roll happening. I had an incredible run.”

Richard needs to be in the top 10 to go through to the WSL. And he’s right on the cusp. Maz said he still needed one big result.

“He’s definitely got enough talent to do it – he has to make a semi, or he will nail it if he makes a final in one of these prime events coming up in Hawaii. He, and Billy Stairmand, are not far off, it’s just getting that roll on, making heat after heat, which is so hard – being consistent is so hard.”

Maz said Hawaii would have two prime events that would play to Richard’s strengths.
“I am sure he will do well in the two big rights at Haleiwa and Sunset.”

When asked if New Zealand supported its surfers enough Maz said the country did, but that the state of the global surf industry made it challenging.  

“We have so many grommet comps, so there are lots of stepping stones, but it is so hard to get money out of companies now,” he explains. “When I was just starting it was really easy to get money – the marketing budgets were huge, but now everything has tightened up so much. You have to be like the golden child to make money out of it.”

“When I was growing up if you could do a reo you would get $20K from an accessory sponsor – it’s so different now. Now, if most of the New Zealand surfers got $20K from their main sponsors they would be happy.”

While the money has diminished in the sport at the lower levels pro surfing is constantly evolving with media coverage at an all-time high.

“The sport has evolved around TV and live media coverage, so if Ric makes it, hopefully his pay packet will go up a hell of a lot, which is good and deserved once you make that top level.”

While they hail from the same region, Maz said he didn’t have any nuggets of wisdom to offer Richard should he qualify.

“I don’t really give people like Ricardo advice, he’s been doing it for enough years now, he’s pretty switched on and is familiar with all the places,” he smiles. “Being on the CT for the first time I did feel like the new guy on the block, but you just have to believe that you deserve to be there and not try too hard – that is the main key. Just stick to the fundamental core of surfing – you don’t have to get 18s every heat – not until you get to the quarters on. Believe in your talent and just employ the basics, especially when the waves are hollow.”

I ask Maz about that moment when the surfing world heads to Teahupoo, Tahiti, you’re new on the tour and you're faced with one of the planet’s most feared waves.

“I shat myself heading into waves like ’Chopes. It’s massive – huge, but it’s just head down and go. Everyone is in the channel watching, which is unusual pressure in a comp. The safety crew is there and the only way you are going to get hurt is if you hit the bottom – which people do, but the chances of that happening are quite slim. You would rather get hurt than pull back on a wave in front of everyone. You would never get that respect back again.”    

Right now Gabriel Medina, of Brazil, is rising to the top of the world of surfing with Hawaii his chance to claim the title.

“He is a freak and is changing the game a bit,” considers Maz. “They are mixing power, speed and flow with huge airs. To be the best now you have got to be good in everything from 1ft to 20ft. That is the way it should be if you are going to be world champ.”  

From December 8-20 Hawaii’s North Shore will host the Pipe Masters and the stage is set for a huge finish to the pro surfing season.

“I don’t know if Medina will make it, it’s a big call,” Maz says. “I don’t know who I would put money on – I would have to wait and see what the waves are going to be like. If it’s all Pipe, then I think Medina will win it quite easily, but if it’s more Backdoor, then I think Mick Fanning will win. I don’t think (Kelly) Slater’s got a chance – he blew it in France and Portugal. You could see his frustration in Portugal – he smashed that board in three bits. That’s just the way it goes.”

Maz made some wise choices when he was at his earning prime in surfing and is comfortable being back home.
“I have no pressure money wise – no mortgage – I’ve got a house in Wainui, I’m in a good spot right now. All I pay is the bills every month and get by pretty nicely. I can’t complain,” he smiles.

It’s fair to say Maz is living the dream of every surfer. He travels the country surfing the best waves he can find, competes in competitions and shoots film and stills campaigns. He gets paid to do all this.

“We’re doing one for Jagermeister at the moment,” he grins as we eye small, scattered waves on a bank at Makarori.

“Up until now if I saw a swell somewhere I would shoot off to catch it, but now I’m at home in my pad I’ll just be hanging till next year,” he explains. “I do have the ultimate lifestyle, but I worked damn hard when I was younger to achieve this. I guess I am reaping the rewards now, but I don’t take anything for granted. I worked bloody hard when I was a kid, saved a lot and sacrificed a lot. Most people see you cruising around the beach every week, which is true, but they don’t see the amount of things I missed out on by training and going to comps when everyone is home having fun and doing other things.”

We watch a small set peel across the bank and it's time to hit it. Time for Maz to stretch his legs in the Gizzy sunshine on a playful little peak out front. The way it should be.

See you at the beach ... Derek

PS Warren Hawke has his new book out and you can buy it from us here.