Surfing: Christie double is oh so sweet for teenager

Richard Christie (Mahia) yesterday completed the double by winning the open men's and under-18 junior men's titles at the National Surfing Championships held at Opunake.

Christie is the youngest ever winner of the open, having turned just 16 in October last year. He is also only the second surfer to win the Open men's and junior men's title in the same year.

Christie surfed back to back finals in challenging conditions at Opunake's The Dump - a right-hand point break that produced good quality waves in the 1.5m-2.0m conditions. For a single final alone, Christie surfed four heats in total over the day with the open men's final being the last and the sweetest.

Christie showed the commitment required as midway through the heat he launched into a blazing series of turns in the pocket and finished the wave off with a big-end manoeuvre to score 8.5. With only small scores for a second ride, Christie moved between second and third until the final minute when he rode the last wave of the final for a 4.5. He'd required 4.18 for the win.

Christie also becomes the only surfer to have won all four of the age-group titles.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY