Surfing: Maz Quinn to come out of retirement for national surfing championships

Maz Quinn was the first Kiwi surfer to compete on the World Championship Tour. Photo / Brett Phibbs.

Kiwi surfing legend Maz Quinn will come out of retirement this weekend to compete in the national surfing championships in Gisborne.

Quinn officially retired from competitive surfing at the beginning of 2017, but told the Herald he will throw on a competition rashie again at his home break for the event which begins on Sunday.

"I guess when you first hang up the boots you miss it," Quinn said. "But that competitive fire hasn't gone anywhere.

He retired from international surfing in 2009, but continued to surf in local competitions until he called it quits last year.

"When I found out the national champs were going to be in Gisborne this year, it was an easy decision to compete again."
Despite the event being held at his home break, Quinn said if the swell is smaller, it'll level the playing field.

"It's like any surf comp – anyone can win it…the first goal's to make the final. Everyone who makes the final can go on to win it."

Now 41, Quinn was the first Kiwi surfer to ever win an event on the World Surf League qualifying series (QS) – taking out the five-star Anglet Pro in France in 1999, and in 2001 he became the first surfer from New Zealand to qualify for the World Championship Tour (CT).

Quinn adds to what shapes up as one of the strongest open men's fields in years, with current QS surfers Billy Stairmand and Ricardo Christie also signed on to compete.

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So good to be back in the homeland!!! ❤️ 📷@jeremeaubertin

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Christie, who, in 2014, became the second Kiwi male to qualify for the CT, hasn't competed in a national championship for years but is a past winner – having taken it out in 2005 when he was 16.

Stairmand, who is staying with Quinn during the event, has been an event staple and has set the benchmark for the past four years with four straight national titles.

With the chance to claim a record-equaling fifth championship in a row and join Iain Buchanan and Wayne Parkes, Stairmand said he'd definitely love to get his name on the trophy again.

However, with Christie and Quinn signed on as well, Stairmand knows a fifth straight title wouldn't come easily.

"Both of them are my idols. I've always looked up to their surfing and who they are as people.

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What a weekend! So stoked to get the big Win at home yesterday! Was such a sick contest. Thanks to all that watched on @skysportnz and supported on the hill! Absolutely frothing! @oakley @oakleysurfing @oakleyaus_nz @fcs_surf @bondizinc #cantstop #frothing #stoked

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"The nationals are a good way to start the year off competitively. I've had a lot of experience; I just want to feel as comfortable as I can out there."

The open women's field will see a new champion crowned this year, with incumbent Ella Williams unavailable to compete due to an early start to the women's QS season. Paige Hareb, who will compete on the CT again this year, was in the same boat as Williams. Their first QS event of the year begins in mid-January.

With two of the biggest names in New Zealand women's surfing out, it opens the door for the likes of the Sansom twins, Gaby and Bianca, to claim the crown.

The window for the event opens on Sunday, with winners to be crowned across all divisions by January 13 with the competition set to run from 8am to 4pm daily.

National surfing championships schedule:
Day 1 – Open men, junior Boys' divisions
Day 2 – Addition of women's divisions
Day 3 – Addition of men's senior age group divisions
Day 4 – Addition of longboard divisions
Day 5 – Addition of stand-up paddleboard (SUP) divisions
Day 6 – Addition of SUP divisions and kneeboard
Day 7 – All divisions plus SUP Race