The 2010 New Zealand Surfing Team was confirmed today (Monday 2nd August). Eight of the nation’s top surfers will compete at the annual 2010 Billabong International Surfing Association (ISA) World Surfing Games at Punta Hermosa, Lima, Peru from the 19th – 27th of October.
New Zealand’s highest world-ranked surfer Paige Hareb (Tara) has confirmed she will attend the event – the first time she has competed in the New Zealand team.
The current world number 9 will compete alongside five team members who attended the event in 2009 as well as two newcomers – Nick White (Mnt) and Morehu Roberts (Gis).
While Hareb has competed successfully at ISA junior events in the past, placing in the finals, this will be her first outing to a World Surfing Games – considered the ‘Olympics of surfing’.
“Yeah I like the team aspect for a change” said Hareb of being selected and competing as a team instead of the more familiar surrounds as an individual pro surfer on the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Tour. “All the support you get from one another and the good times you get along the way are great.”
Hareb suggests up to four of the worlds top ranked female surfers will be in attendance at the 2010 Billabong ISA World Surfing Games. 2004 World Champion and Peruvian superstar Sofia Mulanovich can be attributed in some way to their attendance. “My good friend Sofia lives there. I have been to Peru many times and surfed the waves where the comp is going to be held at. I love it there so it’s another good excuse for me to go back” said Hareb.
New Zealand Champion Laura Rishworth (Mnt) will be the second of two females representing New Zealand at the event. The Mount Maunganui surfer also represented New Zealand in 2009 placing 17th.
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| Nick White – Image Cory / NZ Surf Mag |
Rishworth is joined by fellow Mount Maunganui surfer and first time New Zealand representative Nick White. White has competed full-time on the ASP World Tour for the past two years but took a break in 2010 to concentrate on improving his skills. Therefore when the chance came up for a one-off world event, he jumped at it.
White is joined by Jay Quinn (Gis), New Zealand’s highest placed surfer at the 2009 event placing 13th, fellow New Zealand rep Luke Hughes (Rag) and Gisborne surfer Morehu Roberts who was runner up to Maz Quinn on the Export Gold Series earlier this year.
The team is rounded out by Daniel Procter (Gis) and Thomas Kibblewhite (Auck) as the two surfers competing in the Men’s Longboard Division. Both surfers competed at the event in 2009 with Procter placing 13th and Kibblewhite placing 17th.
The team will look to improve on the eleventh placing in 2009 when the event was held in Costa Rica. Hareb obviously has high personal goals and suggests the entire team could also place highly at this year’s event. “The waves are really fun there, I’ve surfed them a lot before so am feeling confident already. They are similar waves to my local waves at home – Rocky Point and Stent Road. I know the New Zealand team will really like it there, we’ll be in a good environment, in a good vibe and if it all comes together I know we will all do well!” said Hareb.
The 2010 New Zealand Surfing Team is as follows:
Open Men
Jay Quinn (Gisborne)
Luke Hughes (Raglan)
Morehu Roberts (Gisborne)
Nick White (Mount Maunganui)
Open Women
Laura Rishworth (Mount Maunganui)
Paige Hareb (Taranaki)
Men’s Longboard
Daniel Procter (Gisborne)
Thomas Kibblewhite (Auckland)
Manager – David Van Staden (Rag)
Coach – Jay Quinn (Gis)
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 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.
Media Release: Surfing NZ, Written by Ben Kennings, 02.08.2010