KEY POINTS:
Raglan's Daniel Kereopa got the upper hand over Maz Quinn of Gisborne yesterday in their fourth-round heat at the National Surfing Championships at Piha.
The most anticipated heat of the event to date took place in excellent conditions with some perfect 1.5m-2m waves and the surfers put on an exceptional show all day.
Kereopa scored 16.20 out of a possible 20 points to win the open men's heat over Quinn who posted 14.75. Together the two surfers beat Nick White (Mt Maunganui) and Dane Simpson (Gisborne). "Absolutely rapt, I have achieved my goal for the event," said Kereopa.
The event is only halfway through with surfers having to compete twice more before getting to the final. However, Kereopa was happy. "I have had a chance to beat Maz who I regard as the champ, and I did it."
Kereopa now faces defending champion Jay Quinn (Gisborne) in the quarter-final as well as Tim O'Connor (Mt Maunganui) and 2008 runner-up Matt Scorringe (WGM). "I am just having a good time. There is still no pressure on me. I came into the event to gauge myself and seem to be doing all right," said Kereopa.
"The biggest threat is the wave itself. Piha changes its mood every hour. The person who adjusts the best will win. All the boys are surfing real good so the guy who masters the conditions will have the edge," he said.
Jay Quinn progressed through his fourth-round heat in the same fashion as his brother - in second place.
Quinn had a tough time of it in his heat scoring 11.75 but it was enough to move through in second place behind Gisborne's Chris Malone. Older brother Maz was just "happy to get his first heat out of the way" and keep his chances alive for an elusive fifth national title.
"Nah I am not too fazed," said Quinn of his performance. "The conditions sort of have a lot to do with the results because you can be in the right spot and get a bomb or you can get nothing in your heat.
"It has shown through in all the heats today," commented Quinn on the results of the day and surfers that have made huge scores and others that got low scores. "The bank is good, it is just a little tricky."
Other surfers who impressed yesterday were Raglan's Leon Santorik who likened the waves to Manu Bay - his favourite break at Raglan.
Santorik scored 15.20 in his heat to progress alongside Piha local and 1997 national champion Andrew Robinson. "The waves were these big, bowly lefthanders so I felt real confident. The waves were just like home," said Santorik, runner-up at the national champs in 2005. "Anything from here is all good."
