Mimiwhangata's Paul Moretti was the giant killer in the Power Balance Pro series contested at Tay Street, Mount Maunganui.
The 15-year-old showed nerve to match his talent by progressing through to the semifinal of the Open Men's Division beating some surfers who were twice his age.
His quarter-final win over surfers like
Gisborne's Buck Woods, Raglan's Zennor Wernham and the Mount's J C Susan was the surprise of the day, particularly after he had bowed out in the under-20 event.
The tables were then turned on the young surfer in the semifinal, when he finished fourth behind Raglan's Luke Hughes and Woods, who went through to the finals. Moretti wasn't far off the pace though and was just half a point away from overtaking Kiwi surfing legend Maz Quinn in third.
Quinn's brother Jay was too good in the final and took his third victory from four events on the SOL Series this summer and is fast becoming the most dominant surfer in New Zealand.
Local surfer and a standout all weekend, Alex Dive finished second in the final to secure his best result at this level. Dive, also won the under-20 men's division.
Gisborne's Sarah Mason made it two wins in two weeks in the women's division with a 15.67 point heat total.
