Surfing: Quinn and Terrill win surf champs

Kerikeri's Joe Palmer progressed to the open men's semifinals at the South Island Surfing Championships. Photo / Mark Stevenson

Gisborne surfer Maz Quinn and Southland's Jessica Terrill have claimed the men's and women's titles at the South Island Surfing Championships at St Clair Beach, Dunedin.

The two surfers dominated their respective finals held in clean 1m conditions.

The result elevates Quinn to number one on the New Zealand rankings after two of five events in 2015.

Quinn posted a 17.73pt heat total, surfing a near flawless heat with individual wave scores of 9.0pts and 8.73pts out of a possible 10pts.

Quinn defeated Piha's Zen Wallis who finished runner up with a 14.77pt heat total after beating Quinn in the semifinals earlier in the day.

Kerikeri's Joe Palmer, who is currently studying at Otago University, made it through to the semifinal stage of the open men's division but failed to progress to the final.

Jessica Terrill, the lone Southland surfer in the women's final, got off to a flying start, accumulating a 13.50pt heat total after her first two waves.

The lead became insurmountable for her opponents who were left fighting for the minor placings.

Christchurch surfer Max Marshall claimed his first national win in the under-20 men's division in a two-way battle with Mount Maunganui surfer Mac Christie by scoring consecutive waves of 5.43 and 7.27. to beat him.