SURFING: Surfer makes perfect start

Sandy Bay surfer Paco Divers has got off to a perfect start in the 2008 Quiksilver ISA World Junior Championships in Seignosse, France.
In the water for the first time in the competition yesterday, Divers made short work of his opposition to win his first round heat with a combined score of 12.13, beating Japanese surfer Takuya Nahama and sending surfers from Ecuador and Italy into the repechages.
Divers is determined to give the championships his best shot this year - his final appearance at the age-group contest - after representing New Zealand for four years, two years in the under-16s and now two years in the U-18 division at the annual event.
New Zealand has competed at the event since its inception in 2003 as well as competing at the World Grommet Titles, as the competition was formerly known, since 1989.
Each country sends 12 surfers: four male U-16 surfers and four male U-18 surfers, as well has four female U-18 surfers. Last year New Zealand finished fourth in the team's event - their best ever result.
Diver's teammates in the U-18 competition Ryan Hawker, Matt Hewitt and Eli Jacobs all made it through to the second round without having to go through repercharges, with Hewitt surfing well to earn the third highest score of the day, out of 24 heats, with a total of 16.17.
Surfing in steamers, the Kiwi team started their campaign in France with a narrow win over South Africa in the traditional "friendly" teams event.
The Kiwis showed strong form in the girls heats, with Paige Hareb and Airini Mason finishing first equal, Paige winning on a countback. Aussie-based Kiwi Damo Norman won the U-16 boys with Alex Dive in second, while Divers was the best U-18 boy placing second and was the only Kiwi to make the final.
Surfing continues this week with finals set down for Saturday.