KEY POINTS:
The Quinn brothers, Maz and Jay, breezed into the quarter-finals of the national surfing championships in Taranaki yesterday after comfortably winning their second- and third-round heats.
The two world-class surfers barely got into fourth gear with effortless displays off Oakura in excellent swells of 1.5-2 metres.
Maz Quinn posted the same score in both his second- and third-round heats - 16.75 out of 20.
Younger brother Jay scored 13.75 and 13.8 respectively in his heats.
Jay was looking forward to clashing with his brother, a meeting that can only take place in the final.
"It is always good to meet up with him [Maz] and I am looking forward to it this time around so let's see how it goes," Jay Quinn said.
The 2004 national championships was the last time the two surfers met in competition, with Maz winning.
Fellow-Gisborne surfer Richard Christie was the other standout performer yesterday, posting scores of 17.0 and 14.75 in his heats.
Christie, the 2005 national open and junior champion, produced the only perfect 10-point ride of the event to date.
Local surfer Simon Deken advanced through both heats yesterday, as did Raglan's Daniel Kereopa.
Other surfers to win their third-round heats included Leon Santorik (Raglan), Zennor Wernham (Raglan), Motu Mataa (Taranaki) and Nathan Welch (Gisborne).
- NZPA
