At home on NZ breakers

Aussie-based surfer Wini Paul cashed in some of the $25,000 prize money she earned in a recent Gold Coast surf competition to compete at this year's Billabong Pro at Whangamata on Sunday.
The former Sandy Bay surfer was one of the stand-outs in the Open Women's division throughout the competition but fell short in the final, finishing third. She was back from Australia for the event and said she is loving being at home, catching up with and competing against her friends.
The Coolangatta-based Paul and Wollongong's Nick Squiers were the inaugural winners of Jim Beam's innovative "The Break" competition, with their prizemoney enabling them to make all-out assaults on this year's Association of Surfing Professionals World Qualifying Series.
The 21-year-old won the women's event following two days of intense competition on North Stradbroke Island, by defeating some of Australia's hottest surfing prospects.
"It was absolutely mind- blowing," Paul said. "I could hear my heartbeat, I was shaking and when they said my name I didn't even hear it. I was so nervous I thought I might throw up and then when people started hugging me I just burst into tears."
Paul said the sponsorship would allow her to do something she had been preparing to do for years.
"This means I can live my dream, I can be a pro surfer which is something I've wanted to do since I was little."
The competition was for surfers over the age of 18, who were unsigned to a major endorsement and they were asked to submit a 60-second highlights package of their best waves and a quick insight into their character out of the surf.
All 53 entrants were announced and voted on by the public in week-long heats during two months. The public chose the 12 finalists, 8 males and 4 females, while the judges found the best surfers for wild-card invites.
The boot camp-style final featured challenges including surf, swell, fun and media sessions before the overall winners were selected and awarded The Break of a lifetime.
On Sunday, Paul was beaten by Sarah Mason in the Open Women's Division as the 15-year-old romped home over her opponents scoring 15.67 out of 20 for the win.
The young surfer has recently moved back to New Zealand after spending the past five years in Australia with her family. She showed talent in the small waves using her light frame to fly across sections and rack up big scores.
Mason defeated Ella Williams who secured second runner-up placing in two events. Williams scored 11.17 in the final to outpoint Paul in third, with Raglan's Alexis Poulter fourth.
Paul was the form surfer for much of the day but fell short in the final with the fickle conditions putting pay to a possible victory.
Gisborne's Richard Christie snatched a late win in the men's competition, after scoring a 9.77 point ride on the last wave of the final, to jump from fourth into first. The win prevented Jay Quinn securing an unprecedented three from three wins on the SOL Surf Series, after finishing the final in second place.
Northland surfer Joe Moretti was knocked out of the U20 Divison in the second semifinal. The Mimiwhangata surfer finished third behind Whangamata's Braedon Williams and Piha's Ryan Hawker in the heat, with the event eventually won by the Mount's JC Susan.