Surfing: Kiwi girls hang tough to stay in world champs

Three of the youngest Kiwis' team members have battled against a talented pool of international surfers. Mount Maunganui surfer Raiha Ensor. Photo / Digga Raihaensor

Success for the New Zealand Junior team over days one and two of the 2015 Vissla ISA World Junior Surfing Championship has been limited to the girls.

Three of the youngest Kiwis' team members have battled against a talented pool of international surfers.

The team are competing at Oceanside Beach, California, and the first two days of the event were contested in clean 1m-1.5m waves throughout the morning that deteriorated to predominantly low tide close-outs in the afternoon. A record 36 countries are at the event with more than 320 entrants across Under-18 and Under-16 divisions for boys and girls.

The New Zealand Team have only three surfers remaining in the qualifying rounds after the first two days of competitions - Jasmine Smith (Gis) in the Under-18 Girls division and Mount Maunganui pairing of Raiha Ensor and Elin Tawharu in the Under-16 girls division.

Gisborne's Jasmine Smith was the team's top performer on day two, surfing to an 11.26-point heat total to win her heat over surfers from Japan, El Salvador and Panama.

Tawharu then won her heat with Ensor coming second.

"The conditions looked so fun in the morning but unfortunately it was low tide for my heat but it was actually okay because the waves were so similar to the Mount," Tawharu said. "I managed to catch some runners on the edge so I'm so happy to have won my heat. Our girls have done really well so far and, yup, another big day tomorrow."

Following Tawharu into the second round was first-time competitor Ensor.

"The worlds have been great to be a part of so far. The team vibe is really good and everyone is supportive of each other" said Ensor. "I was slightly nervous before my first heat, but I knew if I focused and surfed well I would be able to advance. My plan was to stick a little wider and get the right-hand shoulders instead of the close-outs which there were heaps of on the lower tide and that plan worked."

Daniel Farr (Tara), Jonas Tawharu (Mount) and Kaya Horne (Mnt/Aus) were all relegated to the repecharge rounds after their second day of competition. The three surfers again had to battle the low tide on the second podium.

Under-18 Boys Kehu Butler (Mount) in the Under-16 Boys and Britt Kindred in the Under-18 Girls will be in action next.