KEY POINTS:
Jay Quinn and Angie Koops will defend their titles in the men's and women's finals at the national championships at Piha.
Quinn (Gisborne) yesterday secured a come-from-behind win while Koops (Kaikoura) had to settle for second in her heat after Laura Rishworth (Mt Maunganui) stormed through to her first national final. Fellow Mt Maunganui surfer Matt Hewitt also shone scoring 19.0 in his semifinal - the highest heat score of the event that also included a perfect 10-point ride.
Day six produced clean 1.0m waves at South Piha, Auckland.
Quinn withstood a gallant challenge from his three fellow competitors but at the midway mark of the semifinal was in last place. With five minutes to go in the 25-minute heat, Quinn caught the best wave of the heat to score 8.75 for a series of explosive turns and an aerial manoeuvre to finish off. The wave jumped him into the lead and then the ocean went flat for the remainder of the heat leaving his competitors stranded and unable to challenge his high score.
The defence of his 2008 title now becomes a real possibility with only three other surfers standing between him and back-to-back victories, a feat not achieved at the national champs since 1991.
Quinn progressed through semifinal one with Daniel Kereopa (Raglan) who placed second. Kereopa was in a similar position to Quinn when he found himself in fourth place midway through the heat. But within the space of four minutes he jumped to the lead with back-to-back 7.0 point rides only to be pushed back to second by Quinn moments later.
Kereopa now finds himself in a fairytale return to the competitive scene, having retired after winning the title in 2007. He also made it through to the finals of the stand up paddleboard.
Hewitt, 17, continues to blow away his competitors in the open men's division and will surf his first national final.
Koops progressed behind Laura Rishworth (Mt) yesterday who surfed to an 11.0 heat score.
Winning the second semifinal was Raglan surfer Jessica Santorik who scored 13.75 in her heat to push Daisy Thomas (Christchurch) into second on 12.75.
