Surfing: Young Kiwi pushes world champ

Sarah Mason. Photo / Getty Images

Talented junior Sarah Mason provided four-time women's world surfing champion Stephanie Gilmore with some more anxious moments when the opening round of the 2011 tour finally resumed on the Gold Coast today.

Mason, 15, stunned the Australian in the early rounds of the inaugural ASP tour event in Taranaki last April and came close to knocking Gilmore out again when they met in an elimination heat at the Roxy Pro at Snapper Rocks.

Gilmore's class eventually held sway in slight one-foot waves, she advanced to the third round by scoring 14.24 points to Mason's 10.50 - an impressive performance which justified the NSW-based New Zealander being granted a wildcard for the event.

Unfortunately New Zealand's leading pro surfer Paige Hareb also exited in the second round when she was swamped by tour rookie Pauline Ado.

The Frenchwoman was an emphatic winner with a score of 13.60 compared to Hareb's 5.83.

Competition finally resumed today after an eight-day break due caused by placid conditions.

Hareb used the downtime wisely, collecting signatures from the world's leading men's and women's surfers on a board which will be auctioned to raise funds for Christchurch earthquake relief.

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