Plantation Island Resort is an affordable value for money resort located on beautiful Malolo Lailai island in the Mamanuca’s.  It is easily reached by a 50 minute ferry from Denarau and fantastic for families, multi-generational families, budget conscious, couples and groups.

For more details go too http://www.plantationisland.com/activities/surfing/

There’s a lot to be said for getting an early start under experienced guidance when it comes to beginning to surf. Living near the ocean with consistent surf to develop in can be another massive enhancing factor, then there is the obvious factor of genetics that seem to favour certain sports. While our latest rising grom, Westen Hirst, has grown up around the ocean since birth and rubbed shoulders constantly with great surfers, there is an obvious genetic pass on that has seen his surfing develop faster and more technically than any of the other groms which have grown up in the same environment. You see Westen’s dad is none other than Troy Hirst who was for years our youngest ever National Champion winning the title in 1993. Through his NZ Team exploits, representing at the World Grommet Titles in the early 90’s, Troy fell in love with Indo, travelled there for years and then met and married his now wife and a few years later Westen was welcomed into the world. Troy is based in Indonesia managing a surfboard factory, and these days spends his spare time nurturing his son’s development and sharing the stoke of surfing. But as they say, ‘The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.’ Westen, as his old boy did, is busting down the doors as a grom, and turning heads in every lineup he rides. Look out for this kid cause he’s going places!

Name : Westen Sulhan Hirst

Age: 8 years old.

Where are you from?

Muriwai beach, Auckland. But I have lived in Indonesia since I was 9 months old, my mum is from Lakey Peak, Sumbawa.

School? Widiatmika,  Jimbaran, Bali.

How did your first surfing experience come about ? When and who with?

I first started surfing in Lakey Peak beach break with my friends we used to play around swimming and diving on the inside break at Lakey Beach. I was about 3 1/2 years old, my dad made me a board that was the front end of a mini-mal, it was about 3ft long and very easy to stand on, my favourite move was to do superman dives off it into the waves.

Tell us about the local surf conditions, how often you get to surf and where are your favourite local breaks?

I live in Jimbaran, Bali, so there are so many choices of waves from beaches to reef breaks, I love them all. But I guess I surf the beaches mostly, like Halfway and Padma in Kuta, they are the closest to my house to get to after school. I surf all weekend with my dad and probably about three days a week after school, my mum likes to play beach volleyball so we go to the beach quite a lot.

My favourite break in Bali is Uluwatu, there’s so many good sections to hit or get barrelled on. But the best waves are from my other home Lakey Peak and Lakey Pipe in Sumbawa, I love to surf them with my friends.

 Your dad was the New Zealand Champion and represented his home country New Zealand, you are lucky that you will have two countries that should you reach the position of being able to represent which will you choose? 

I don’t know but at the moment I only have a New Zealand passport so I wanna come back and do the NZ Nationals when I’m a bit older. But Indonesia is my home at the moment, I don’t know I’m too young to know yet, maybe I can do both, haha.

You got to come to New Zealand last summer and spend some time at your dad’s home break Muriwai/Maori Bay what did you think of those places and NZ in general?

The waves are fun, but cold for me, lucky Rip Curl gave me a really good wetsuit. The first time I surfed I couldn’t feel my ears, and it was really hard to get out the back, there was so much duck diving, but the waves were fun to surf. I like NZ and I always have so much fun with my cousin and the food is really good. I wanna go surf where there’s lots of long lefts like Raglan and Whangamata, my family live there so maybe next time I can visit them and surf there.

Not only have you had dad to inspire you but in the village of Lakey Peak there are also many amazing local surfers and also all the visiting surfers, who inspires you the most and why?

This year Mason Ho was at Lakey and he is crazy, he can do everything, barrels, airs, and he is very funny, he was so nice to all us groms I like his surfing.

I also met Gabriel Medina and went surfing with him he was amazing, so fast and doing the biggest airs and he is a goofy also, I really wanna surf like him.

My uncle Dedi Gun and Oney Anwar when they are at Lakey, they always push us and tell us how to get better. Bronson Meydi my good friend is so good, he is the best grom in Indo, the local Lakey groms are all good they are all getting to be really good barrel riders, that’s the first thing you learn to do at Lakey. My friends Luky, Afrizal and Gilang we all push each other to get deeper barrels it’s fun.

You’re only 8 years old and you have been charging reef breaks for a few years now, how do you feel on the big days surfing over shallow reef? 

It’s okay I’m not really worried about the bottom, more of the big waves. It’s okay up to about 6ft but then I’m scared I’m gonna get smashed, I like it when it’s 4-5 ft it’s good.

What else do you get up to when not surfing? 

I love to go skating. Bali has so many good skate parks and bowls. And I also like flying kites, me and my friends are making a 3-meter-long kite at the moment, it’s good to fly them close by my house, I also play football and are starting to do Karate.

Who do you surf with most?

I have many different surf friends here, it depends on what beach we go to but I surf mostly with my uncle Putu and Bronson Meydi, he is from Lakey to but lives in Bali. Also Varun Tundjung, Dhanny & Dhea Widianto, Tania Izquierdo, Cinta Hansel, Tenshi Ishii, Ryuki Wiada, Ketut Agus. There’s lots of kids in the Kuta area, we all surf together and then play on the beach.

What does surfing mean to you?

Surfing is so much fun I love to get barrelled and have fun with my friends at the beach, we are always happy.

Where would you like to take your surfing? 

I wanna be a pro like Medina and John John if I’m good enough, we will see.

Your best surf competition achievements so far?

This year I have won two U12 Rip Curl Grom search events.

Life’s highlights? 

Just growing up in Bali, it’s so much fun I love it! Surfing with my friends, we always have the best time.

Your favourite surf breaks and why?

That’s easy Lakey Pipe it’s the best to get backdoor barrels and all the groms take it over. We all yell at each other after barrels and just have fun, we actually made some little club rooms on the beach from drift wood and we hang out there and surf all day.

Ever surfed overseas? and where? 

I have only surfed at Maori bay and Muriwai in New Zealand but we stopped in at Australia and surfed at Currumbin Alley and Palm Beach. I wanna travel lots more in the future.

Your dream surf trip?

To go to Hawaii and surf Pipeline and school holidays surfing at Lakey Peak.

Shout outs to your biggest supporters:

Thanks Mum and Dad you are the best! And to Rip Curl Asia, Carve Sunglasses, PSI Surfboards, Sunzapper Sunscreen and Life On The Juice, they really support me I am so thankful to them all.

Follow me on Instagram:  westen_hirst 

Photo caption:  What were you doing at 8 years old? Not hauling off the bottom of an eight foot wave over razor sharp live coral I bet! 

Words and Photos: Cory

We hit the icy roads of winter bound for NZ’s pound for pound heaviest wave, a wave considered too risky by many and a wave that has ended its fair share of love affairs with those that have dared tame her. Surfers are traditionally seen as extreme risk takers and will go beyond the normal means of human acceptance to simply bask in the glory of riding the ultimate wave. With great risk comes great reward, but what if that risk far outweighs any reward you could possibly ever receive from riding a wave? What if that risk meant never surfing again?

Surfing injuries can be part and parcel of the sport and happen day in day out at breaks throughout the country, yet considering this wave turning on is such a rare occurrence and is also only ridden by a handful of experts with skills to match the technical challenge of its ride, surely there is no other wave on our shores that have handed out such beatings and humbled many to the point that they resign from ever surfing here again! Extreme you may say! But when those incidents consist of broken necks, backs, ankles, and cuts and bruises so deep that they could have long lasting life affects, then it would make you think twice. What if you were faced with being knocked out, only to be found floating face down in the impact zone by another surfer who just happened to be paddling back out? These are some of the clouds that hang over the heads of those that dedicate themselves to a spot in this lineup.

With the most extreme of risks out of the way, surfing here also comes with other associated risks although of the lesser impact kind. With a mid-winters weather bomb spiralling its way off our East Coast, the hype meter was in overload with surfers all over the country frothing on this potential week-long run of swell. While many swells can be hyped and lead to sweet bugger all, this one was looking a dead set certainty therefore the entire East Coast from the Far North down to Otago would be smoking at various stages up and down the coast as the wind swung.

What this introduced was another risk of dedicating to the chase of scoring this one particular wave, a wave that is notoriously fickle and a wave which has not only a narrow swell window but also needs the combinations of wind and tide to harmonize to deliver the platform to ride. Therefore, those that expressed interest in chasing the swell to have at least a chance to score this wave would be risking blowing certain sessions elsewhere, and risking the possibility that they could take days off work, spend hundreds of dollars on travel and yet if those elements didn’t combine, it would result in a fruitless few days and riding nothing at all!  Yet they all knew and all understood, for that ultimate reward their lies an ultimate risk, and not plenty, but just one wave at this spot can make all of that risk vanish in a haze as they are blown out of a deep barrel into the channel.

With the soldiers coming in from far and wide, some driving through the night, some leaving at the crack of dawn, the first day of swell had filled in, yet the wind had stuck with us overnight and sat 180 degrees from the required direction, basically meaning it was onshore. Big hopes and dreams were crushed as each of the soldiers rolled up to the battlefield. Some slept in their cars after a long night’s drive, others ventured searching for coffee, which in these parts was gonna be about as easy as stumbling upon a nugget of gold. Others went in search of at least some type of rideable wave that they could wash the cobwebs off in, only to return dejected. The thing with this wave is everyone that has ridden it knows, you only need ‘ONE’ and that a last-minute change in wind direction could offer up that chance which by now was becoming slimmer by the minute. We had missed the tide and an entire day of sitting, waiting, and clinging to a hope. It was time to face reality and accept the crushing blow. Tomorrow would be another day!

While reports came flooding in from up and down the coastline and social media posts revealed the waves others had scored, this only rubbed more salt into the wound. Yet that wound was about to receive another tablespoon of salt, perhaps even mixed with lime juice, when the evening reports were updated, revealing this weather system had stalled and what was supposed to be a four-day offshore window was now forecast to be onshore. Yet the commitment had been made, and there was no backing out now! By first light the posse had assembled back at the lookout, sitting and waiting for that miracle wind change. To cut a long story of a long day short, it never happened! Another break nearby offered up some reprieve where some cut backs were put into action, yet the thunderous tubes we had all ventured for evaded our clutches. By now negativity had begun to spread like a poison amongst the crew, and understandably so. Calls such as “I knew I should have just surfed the Island” or “Now I’m three days down on my days off work for nothing!”  and for those that ventured off, knowing and accepting these risks as part of this journey, were now facing a reality they never thought would happen.

Yet there was still hope! Still a glimmer of salvation. Some took the loss on the chin, pulled the pin and went home. Yet the committed regulars who have tasted the reward before, stuck it out and were back at the lookout point first thing on day three. Hopes were up when the first sight of the lineup revealed clean surface conditions and the offshore winds that were meant to arrive two days before. There were some epic sets marching in, yet with the tide still too low to even attempt this wave, it was just a matter of sit and be teased for a couple of hours, waiting for some water, even if only a few inches, to cover the reef. Those hours were some of the longest hours any of us have ever had to sit through, three days now of torture and now right in front of our eyes. The swell was swinging more and more with every set, meaning the window was becoming narrower and narrower, which also meant it slowed down to a point that it was becoming un-rideable.  With an incoming tide which should offer up a push, it never happened and the crew were resigning to the “Maybe next time” angle. Then against all odds and former characteristics of this wave, the swell began to pulse once again, with each set becoming more consistent than the last. Wetsuits were thrown on and within minutes it was all on. Jostling for position as each set detonated on the shallow shelf, the crew went wave for wave and rapturous applause and hooting of car horns blazed out from the beach as each freight train barrel was negotiated. As we have described, this wave is not for the faint of heart and every session demands payment in equipment, blood and flesh of some sort and Tyson Gargus was first to be taxed being slammed into the bottom nearly tearing his wetsuit completely in half. Sam ‘Sanga’ Willis who had only just returned to the water after suffering a nasty injury back at the tail end of summer, was buzzing on the timing of his return with conditions being as good as it gets. Yet on his very next wave standing tall way back on the foam ball, Sanga was caught and driven into the reef and took an age to surface, also coming up with a torn up wetsuit, somehow though he managed to paddle back out driven by adrenalin complain of a sore back and then  onset into the next set and getting spat out of one of the best waves ever ridden here. Something was wrong though and Sanga slowly made his way in almost unable to walk. Reaching the beach, to awkwardly climb out of his wetsuit the damage was revealed with an instant black and purple toned hematoma encompassing the entire kidney, rib and lower back area, and unfortunately for Sanga another eight weeks minimum out of the water. No one has dedicated the amount of time to this reef as Damon Gunness and his usual sit and wait for the best wave of the day had gifted nothing so far, yet in the last half hour of tide and light left on this short winters day, Damon threaded through a seemingly un-makeable thick keg paddling back out after being blown out to make comment “I didn’t think I’d manage to get one”.

Bobby Hansen was another to benefit from this last flurry, Bobby had never committed to chasing this swell having the other type of commitment, work. He had been spewing he was gonna miss out, but at the end of the day his timing was the most perfect of all, taking two hours off work late arvo, one hour for the drive and one hour to get completely barrelled off his head. Right on sunset and pushing his luck against a dropping tide, Bobby after negotiating three long barrel sections was about to emerge, when the last section went dry on the end ledge and Bobby also paid a visit to the bottom, luckily escaping with only a slightly twisted ankle and a small bruise on his rear end. Rounding out the epic performances of the day was Leon Santorik who grew up refining his backhand barrel riding on Raglan’s Ledge, many years in Indo and a man who holds the risks of chasing reward at this wave, more than worth it! After first sampling this wave for the first time eight years ago, Leon has made the effort and sacrifice to make sure he scores most of the swells that hit here. With an Andy Ironsesque barrel riding style, to be on hand to witness Leon’s and these other surfer’s incredible tubes first hand makes it a pleasure to call this part of the world home. You could travel the world year-round in search of a session like this, yet right here on another Pita Pit Roady we put in the hard yards, faced adversity and disappointment and were rewarded with an ultimate roady. May the stars align someday again soon.

It’s safe to say that opinion is born of perspective. Whether that perspective is born from ignorance for example or from a place of experience, respective opinions are bound to differ. That being the case the hand shaper’s opinion is likely slanted via a perspective gained while creating surfboards by hand shaping them. It’s only natural for somebody in this position to be of the opinion that hand shaping is the only way to go.

You will often find the 100% hand shape claim a point of difference in social media posts, for example. Only this morning I saw an Instagram post by a young creative shaper I admire and follow. The post contained a photo of a surfboard showroom with a window into an adjoining shaping bay with a caption to the effect that looking through that window was the only way to guarantee your stuff is hand shaped. Clearly a view that shaping machines are not cool! Surfing is a very “touchy feely” pastime and emotively charged words go a long way in capturing our imaginations and in turn opening our wallets.

In the case of a shaper that designs their surfboards in a specialised surfboard design programme which is then cut on a machine, the perspective will be quite different. Interestingly very few shapers openly push the use of computers and machines as a way to win you over. An exception being, Channel Islands Surfboards South Africa installed an APS 3000 shaping machine behind glass for all to see in a shopping mall in Durban. Technology out in the open.
Clearly there is a chasm of perspective difference between two human beings when one shaper hand shapes every board and wouldn’t dream of using a machine for fear of selling out and another shaper who has spent years learning the language of numerically controlled machines and software programs who wouldn’t dream of shaping a board by hand, deeming it an inefficient way of producing a shaped board which by the very nature of it’s creative process has limitations when it comes to meaningful design progression. Sounds harsh? Please read on.

Like most things in life there is a lot more going on when you start to dig a little deeper. In terms of surfboard manufacturing, hand tools were used exclusively until the electric planer became the tool of choice in the 1950’s. Another electric tool was likely already in use at the time being that of the electric router’ used in conjunction with a profile jig (sometimes also referred to as a profile machine). Other machines such as pantographs were subsequently developed to copy and replicate boards in multiples. Computer controlled shaping machines didn’t come about until much later. The first was invented by Michel Barland in France and was in use in Europe by 1984. Globally though, hand shaping was more the norm until Miki Langenbach developed his APS3000 machine in the early 2000’s. Advances in design software, coupled with its ease of availability is really the key to the widespread adoption of this technology.

Meanwhile, shapers around the world had become skilled in the art of accurately  sculpturing surfboards in double quick time using a hand held electric planer, as well as self made sanding blocks and a fairly minimal kit of hand tools. Physical stamina played a big part. It’s not too hard to imagine someone that has spent 40 years or more perfecting their technique, skill and knowledge proudly standing behind their life’s work and declaring: “100% hand made”. The same goes for the glassers, sanders and other veterans of the surfboard industry. After all the work is hard, the hours long, the pay shit, the conditions either dusty or fumy and often both. Interestingly there are those that feel their work is at its best when design software and CNC machines are involved. Behind it is a solid foundation built on years of hand shaping and record keeping, not to mention a mountain of knowledge and experience gained. Embracers of technology see the main benefits in being free from the constraints of manual labour, free to design and create its brains over brawn.
Then there’s those that hand shape all their custom boards but have some examples scanned and cut on machines so as to be able to supply stock boards for sale. These shapers are making use of the existence of shaping machines without using design software. In other words they are hand shapers using a machine cutting service to expand their production. Prior to the availability of machines, hand shapers used other hand shapers to ghost shape extra boards as a way to expand their production.
In some cases there was an army of shapers behind the scenes producing big name brands in large numbers. There have also been a small number of super human shapers that have invested time in developing a method for speed and accurately to shape large numbers of
surfboards on a daily basis. These individuals are sometimes referred to as human shaping machines because their shaping output is consistently so much higher than their contemporaries. Perhaps the best known examples of this would be Californian shapers Phil Becker and Terry Martin.
More recently and on an ever increasing basis is a new kind of player into the mix.
That of the tech savvy guy often with little or no actual hands on shaping experience who using generic board files as a base with which to design surfboards in software packages and have them machine shaped at a surfboard cutting service. While they may be tech savvy they have little or no experience, no overheads or factory infrastructure. There’s a new breed of back yard surfboard builder on the loose using computer skills to design and market their brand.

In 1975 I turned 15 years old and already had a couple of years of free form hand shaping under my belt. In 1975 Pink Floyd released a now famous album by the name of Wish You Were Here and one song that seemed to fill my head was “Welcome to the machine” I remember wondering at the time just exactly what was this “machine” and being slightly daunted by the implication of this “machine” being
part of my destiny. From that time on I went through life watching out for “the machine” and this may well have been part of the conditioning that led me to where I am now. My personal perspective comes about after shaping thousands of surfboards by hand then thousands using a profiler and around the same number using a surfboard shaping machine. Regardless of the method employed, I’m using  my hands, my heart, my soul and my integrity. Now approaching my 60 th year I ponder how my current perspective may change with the passing of time as I’m sure will be the case of our young foot loose and fancy free hand shaper from the afore mentioned Instagram post. Lastly, when it comes to perspectives I also wonder if reading this will have changed yours? Maybe Roger Waters should have the last word … “Welcome to the machine”.

‘Beyond The Tour’ is a short O’Neill video series that shares Jordy’s experiences travelling and preparing for world tour events. Get Inside access to Jordy’s journey through the exotic stops of the tour filled with free surf sessions and exclusive highlights. This edition delves into the South African leg where Jordy ignited J-Bay with his perfect 10s – it also features an inside look at Trestles and Jordy’s life at his adopted home in California. Complete with Yellow jersey footage and a 2^nd place final finish, Beyond the Tour brings to life the voyage & emotions of a pro surfer. Catch Jordy dialing into the equipment, shred novelty waves, and dive into South Africa and California.

Hi my name is Christie Carter and I’d like to welcome you to the Mentawai Islands and to our resort which we call WavePark.

We understand that time is the most precious thing in all of our lives and we aim to make sure that your time at WavePark is as memorable as possible.  We’ve been building our resort and hosting guests since 1998 and were the first resort in the Mentawai Islands.

The best thing about WavePark is our location.  We have an 80 acre private island right in the middle of the one of the most wave rich areas in the world.  There is a great wave for surfing right out front and we are surrounded by epic waves like Rifles, Kandui, Ebay, Bankvaults and Playgrounds?  We also surf Telescopes, Scarecrows and Icelands in a different part of Mentawai.  Whether you’re a charger, beginner or anywhere in between, there is an abundance of waves that will suit your level of surfing.  You will definitely go home surfed out.

Another comment we hear often is how much private space we have built into each bungalow.  All 5 bungalows face Hideaways, one of the most incredible waves in the world, right on our doorstep.  You can check the surf from bed when you wake up in the morning!

We have the best house reef in northern Mentawai, which starts 20m from any of the bungalows and is perfect for snorkeling.  If the fish are biting, you can catch some tuna, mahi mahi and trevali and the kitchen will serve it up as sashimi, ceviche, bbq or steamed.  Swimming, kayaking and SUP happen in the flat water lagoon right out front and the kids are safe playing in the shorebreak.  We have Ping pong, billiards, volleyball, patonque, Frisbee golf and a great library.

The food at WavePark is varied with Indonesian and western dishes and you’ll never have the same meal twice.

Whether you’re single, a family with kids, a couple, or travelling friends, we’re working to ensure that all of our guests become return guests.

We look forward to providing you with an unforgettable stay in the Mentawai islands.

www.wavepark.com

email: wavepark.com@gmail.com
phone: +628126635551
instagram: @waveparkmentawai
FB: https://www.facebook.com/mentawairesort/

Jack O’Neill’s bearded face and trademarked eyepatch (the result of a surfing accident), became the iconic image synonymous with the O’Neill surf brand.

Getting his start in San Francisco building surfboards in the early 1950s, O’Neill sold equipment out of his surf shop to a very small community.

“All my friends said, ‘O’Neill: you will sell to five friends on the beach and then you will be out of business’” Jack said in an interview about his surf shop. But it was his tireless research and development into what would become the modern day wetsuit, that launched his business.

At the time, seeking to spend longer sessions in the cold waters of Ocean Beach San Francisco, he tinkered with various materials including wool sweaters (which became heavy, wet and smelly), plastic sheathed sweaters (which were tight and restricted) and also, according to one source, petroleum jelly (very slippery). Then, at the suggestion of a friend, O’Neill tried a new material called neoprene.

He moved operations to the wave-rich coast of Santa Cruz 90 minutes to the south. His inventions included a vest made of the new material that proved to keep off some of the chill. After that he expanded, making beavertail jackets and long john wetsuits. In the 1970s he replaced the two-piece design with a single, one piece full suit.

O’Neill also created, grew and headed a global clothing empire before selling the licensing to another company. O’Neill at one time sponsored Dane Kealoha, Shaun Tomson and John John Florence. The brand has for many years sponsored marquee rider Jordy Smith.

Jack O’Neill was inducted into the International Surfing Hall of Fame in 1991. His son Pat continues to run O’Neill Wetsuits.
Jack is survived by his wife Noriko, daughters Cathi, Bridget and Shawne, sons Pat, Tim (Lisa) and Jack Jr., and grandchildren Uma, Riley, Connor, Bridget, Phoenix and Kodiak.

From:   Surfing New Zealand
Sport:   International Surfing
Event:  2017 ISA World Surfing Games
Divisions: Open Men’s and Women’s
Date:    20^th – 28^th May 2017
Location: Biarritz, France
Websites: ISA and Surfing New Zealand

Williams Finishes Seventh, Men Get Underway in France

New Zealand Surfing Team member Ella Williams finished seventh at the International Surfing Association World Surfing Games overnight (Monday 22^ndMay) falling just short of a berth in the final against world class performers.

The 22-year-old surfer from Whangamata battled extremely small and inconsistent conditions in the semifinals early on day three of the event.  Her World Tour opponents Pauline Ado and Johanne Defay, both of France, progressed through the semifinal and went on to place one-two in the final to secure gold and silver plus give France an early lead on the team standings.

Williams’ result has helped New Zealand to fourth place overall after three days of the event.

Williams finished fourth in the semifinal requiring 5.90 to advance.  However after persistent paddling up and down the beach to find a decent wave, Williams was left waveless out the back.

The result improves on her ninth placing in 2016 but falls short of the two podium finishes she has achieved in 2013 and 2015.

The event’s focus now shifts to the Open Men’s Division which entered the water for the first time on day three.  Kiwis in action included JC Susan (Dun) and Zen Wallis (Piha).

Susan made a very slow start to the event waiting for any wave that had a little more size and enough power to move his big frame.  The low heat totals saw Susan only just holding down second place nearing the end of the heat when he finally caught the wave he had been looking for to post a seven point ride and move into first place.

“I bumped up my board volume before the event as I heard it is often small at this time of the year” said Susan of the conditions.

“Normally I don’t surf waves this small but I have had a fair bit of training at the Mount” he added of his original hometown Mount Maunganui.

By the time Wallis surfed his heat, the onshore winds had returned and the swell started to build making the ocean state completely different to the morning.

Wallis posted a 9.63 point heat total to advance in second place behind Panamanian surfer Diego Salgado.

“After a delay over the full tide, the event resumed and looked completely different. The swell picked up with the strong onshore and became messy and random but a lot more waves were coming through and I am stoked to get through that first round” said Wallis

The New Zealand Team are one of 47 nations competing at the event.  The record number of entries meant that only two Kiwi males surfed while Paul Moretti (Mur) and Taylor Hutchison (Rag) will have to wait until day four to contest their first heat.

“It’s awesome having so many teams competing this year but with so many competitors they have had to change the format to have only one round of requalifying heats and then straight knockout rounds after that.  We’re looking forward to supporting Paul and Taylor through their heats in the bigger waves tomorrow” Wallis continued.

The New Zealand Team has been taken in by the coastal township of Bidart located just north of Biarritz.  The team were welcomed into the friendly community thanks to a Kiwi connection and have been treated royally since and have enjoyed extra support at the beach.

The World Surfing Games are being held at Biarritz in the south of France from the 20^th – 28^th May.  A record 47 nations are participating at the event as the sport prepares for Tokyo 2020 and the Olympics for the first time.

New Zealand’s ranking of eighth in 2016 secures a berth in the Aloha Cup Tag Team event which includes the top eight nations at the event.  New Zealand placed fourth in the 2016 Aloha Cup.

Please see below for tonight’s schedule and results from day two of the 2017 ISA World Surfing Games held at Biarritz, France overnight (Monday 23^rd May).

Day 3 Action (Monday night NZT)
9:00pm – Paul Moretti – Open Men’s Round 1
11:40pm – Taylor Hutchison – Open Men’s Round 1

Open Women’s Division Semifinals
Heat 2
Johanne Defay, FRA, 10.83, 1, Pauline Ado, FRA, 8.33, 2, Frankie Harrer, GER, 4.77, 3, Ella Williams, NZL, 3.4, 4

Open Men’s Division Round 1
Heat 6
JC Susan, NZL, 10.8, 1, Josh Evans, CIS, 7.6, 2, Orlando Ortega, PAN, 7, 3, Qiu Zhuo, CHN, 6.36, 4
Heat 14
Diego Salgado, PAN, 12.5, 1, Zen Wallis, NZL, 9.63, 2, Alex Vibert, CIS, 8.46, 3, Mathias Piskernik, AUT, 2.8, 4

About International Surfing Association (ISA)
The International Surfing Association (ISA) is recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as the World Governing Authority for surfing, bodyboarding, SUP and surfriding.  It was originally founded as the International Surfing Federation in 1964 and has been running world championships since 1964, and the Junior World Championships since 1980.

Further Information
For further information on the New Zealand Surfing Team please contact Surfing New Zealand’s Ben Kennings on 021 2278732 or email benkennings@surfingnz.co.nz.

Imagery
High resolution action images of team members will be available to media free of charge upon request.

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