Surf Lifesaving: Bryant sets cracking pace in Monster

Papamoa's Mason Bryant was up with the leaders until the ski leg. Photo / Andrew Warner

Papamoa life saving club member Mason Bryant's surprise assault on the favourites threatened, for a moment at least, to make the Mount Monster synonymous with giant killing.

The 18-year-old planned to stick with the leaders on the opening run along Main Beach to Tay St and back, but surprised even himself by building a solid lead by the time he was the first to leap from the blowhole on the back of Moturiki Island to begin the swim leg.

"I wanted to just stay with the front guys on the run but they ended up blowing at the blowhole on the way back," Bryant said after learning his five minute time penalty from the swim leg had left him in sixth place in the open category.

The youngster was thrilled to have matched it for so long with the two big names of winner Max Beattie and runner-up Cory Taylor.

"I went off on the ski with them and stayed with them for a little bit but I couldn't stay with them obviously - they're so good.

"My weakness is definitely the ski but I've been working on it. That was a good ski for me and I hope to pick it up and make it one of my stronger legs."

Piha's Kirsty Wannan broke through for her first big win in the women's race, though the 22-year-old was harassed all the way by her 16-year-old clubmate Hannah Williams. Wannan finished in 2hrs 37mins 33secs, with Williams second in 2:39.01.

"I felt her hunting the whole way and felt that target on my back," Wannan said. "She's so young and she's got energy to burn and is definitely one to watch out for in future."

Mount Maunganui's Katie Wilson was third followed by Grace Kaihau (Maroochydore) and another Piha Olympian, Teneale Hatton, was fifth.