Hansen duo book nationals spots

AIMING HIGH: Kalani Hansen surfing in the third and final leg of the Northland scholastic surfing series last Friday.

The best secondary school surfers in the province scored pumping surf at Ahipara last Friday for the third and final event of the 2015 Northland Scholastic Surfing Series.

Contest director Tony Baker noted the competitors were greeted with nice 1 to 2 metre lines peeling down the points and the swell broke throughout the day to continue a memorable winter for waves at the Far North break.

Due to the size of the draw and the tide factor, organisers decided to run the event at two breaks, with the under-14 boys and girls along with the U16 and U18 girls held at Tokanui, the break commonly referred to as Pines, while the U16 and U18 boys heats were run at the outside break of Tauroa, aka Blue House. Not surprisingly, Ahipara surfer Sergio Hansen (Kaitaia College) hit form in the under-18 boys final, applying local knowledge in the deteriorating wind-affected conditions to win ahead of Kohl Mase (Pompallier College), Matt Jensen (Bream Bay College) and Callum Robertson-Barnes (Kerikeri College).

Sergio's younger brother Kalani also impressed in the U16 boys division, eventually securing a third place in a heat featuring Tom Norton (Bream Bay College) and Joseph Critchfield (Rodney College).

"Hansen showed his experience over the shallow reef break, a willingness to attack any section that came his way," Baker noted, but added it was Critchfield who took the win after snagging a set wave in the dying minutes of the final where he "proceeded to unleash a series of smooth backhand carves finishing with a strong closeout manoeuvre on the shallow inside section."

The respective results meant both Hansen boys had secured their selection in the Northland team heading to the nationals later this year.

There was less Far North relevance in the U14 boys' final, which delivered excellent performance waves; while the girls' draw featured a reduced field compared with the previous two events although it was evident those who were there showed they were capable and deserved standouts of the girls junior surfing scene in Northland. The final event of the series completed also saw the overall ratings cemented (from the three legs), with those winners were presented with custommade trophies designed and crafted by Mark Vercoe and the tech department from Whangarei Boys' High, and sponsored by local businesses.

Results from leg 3 of the NSSS at Ahipara on June 26 were, U14, girls: Grace Pevats (WGHS) 1, Kate Moyle (Kerikeri) 2; boys: Max Brunker (WBHS) 1, Oscar Harper (WBHS) 2, Jack Bennett (Rodney) 3, Bassy Waldron (Rodney) 4. U16, girls: Billie Scott (WGHS) 1, boys: Joseph Critchfield (Rodney) 1, Luca Mase (Pompallier) 2, Kalani Hansen (Kaitaia) 3, Tom Norton (Bream Bay) 4. U18, boys: Sergio Hansen (Kaitaia) 1, Kohl Mase (Pompallier) 2, Sam Nemeroff (Kaitaia) 3, Callum Robertson-Barnes (Kerikeri) 4. The overall series winners were, U14s, girls: G Pevats, boys: M Brunker; U16s, girls: B Scott, boys: T Norton; U18s, girls: E Brunker, boys: M Jensen.

With the series now wrapped up, the Northland Surfing Association selectors were preparing to confirm the 12-person team plus one travelling reserve to compete at the 2015 National Scholastic Championships in Gisborne from September 28 to October 2. The NSA also advised it was seeking any sponsorship opportunities to support the 2015 Northland Surfing Team on their nationals campaign. For more information, contact NSA president Jason Ruddell (021)288-834, jason@nolimitz.co.nz