Surfing: Top riders to feature at Whangamata

This weekend's Billabong Pro surfing competition has attracted the cream of New Zealand talent as well as a smattering of international surfers who could keep the locals honest.

The tail end of this week's big northerly swell is expected to give surfers the opportunity to impress at Whangamata in the three-day event starting tomorrow.

Gisborne's Maz Quinn, Bobby Hansen and Blair Stewart and Raglan's Daniel Kereopa are the favoured surfers but with entries from Australia, USA, Brazil and Venezuela - all bets are on hold.

Last season, the lone Australian in the field, Drew Everest, upset all predictions to take the top prize and the Kiwis will have to be on top of their game if they want to avoid a similar scenario this year.

Northland will be represented in the men's draw with Whangarei brothers Chad and Cheyne Dowsett keen to get among the $15,000 in prize money from the penultimate event on the 2005-06 Lion Red Pro Surfing Tour.

There are three Northlanders in the women's event with Wini Paul hoping to do well but there is also be plenty of interest in Whangarei's Heather Easterbrook and Ladine Clarke at the event.

Both competitors have until recently surfed in Australia and are both slowly finding their feet at events on the New Zealand domestic calender.

Easterbrook was unlucky to draw a tough heat at the recent nationals and will be looking to make amends this weekend.

She returned to Whangarei after being based on Australia's Sunshine Coast last year.

Both surfers will be hoping to put some pressure on some of the seeded surfers in the competition.

Points are also on offer in the overall Lion Red competition, which will see four women invited to the season finale on February 25, along with the top 16 male surfers.

- NORTHERN ADVOCATE (WHANGAREI)