Far North surfers secured three of the top 20 places up for grabs across five divisions in the third and final leg of the 2014 Northland Scholastics Surfing Series, held in chill deep winter conditions at Ahipara on Friday, August 15.
Notable efforts by the local students included Kerikeri High's Callum Robertson Barnes, placing runner up in the under-18 boys division, with classmate Harry Bergman finishing 4th; while Kaitaia College's Kalani Hansen placed a very respectable runner-up in the under-16 boys' division.
A report from the championships noted the event was held in frigid, polar blast-like conditions; strong offshore winds and a 2m-plus swell which provided an ideal platform for surfers from schools across Tai Tokerau to showcase their skills. Standouts included Zane Hicks (WBHS) continuing his dominance in the U18 boys and winning all of his heats comfortably in a division which saw competitors recording high scoring rides on right-handers at a break generally regarded as a left; Manu Scott-Arrieta (WBHS) - having recently surfed for New Zealand in the ISA World Junior Surfing Games - showcasing his repertoire in the clean 1.5m plus waves at Muke 2s to dominate the U16 boys division, while Hansen stayed top of the standings with a second place; while the U14 and 16 girls surfed at Shipwreck Bay.
Results were as follows. BOYS. U18: Z Hicks (WBHS) 1, C Robertson-Barnes (KKHS) 2, M Jensen (BBC) 3, H Bergman (KKHS) 4; U16: M Scott-Arietta (WBHS) 1, K Hansen (KC) 2, K Mase (PCC) 3, J Moselen (WBHS) 4; U14: L Mase (PCC) 1, T Norton (BBC) 2, Jacob Hayes (WBHS)3, Joseph Critchfield (Rodney), Finn Diamond (WBHS) 4=.
GIRLS (all WGHS). U16: U14: M Polwart 1, N Robinson 2, N Newbold 3, M Robinson 4; E Brunker 1, B Scott 2, P Olney-Kemp 3;
