Mason fourth in World Junior Surfing Championships

2006 Quiksilver ISA World Junior Surfing Championships

International Surfing Association
Maresias, Brazil.
6 - 14 May 2006

Mason Fourth In World Junior Surfing Championships

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 15 May, 2006 : - - Airini Mason has surfed to an excellent fourth place in the girls under 18 division of the Quiksilver ISA World Junior Surfing Championships that were completed at Maresias Beach, Brazil overnight.

The Maori surfer, now based in Australia, was the highest placed New Zealand surfer at the event. The fourth placing was the best result the Rip Curl New Zealand Surf Team has achieved in the past three events. The day was capped off when the team placed third in the ISA Cup ‘tag team’ event behind South Africa and Australia.

Mason fell off the pace in the final and needed a further two excellent scoring rides to challenge for the lead. Mason surfed ten heats over the week including a massive six heats over the last two days and the huge work load may have taken its toll on the young surfer.

French surfer Pauline Ado won the final on her last wave of the final edging out Sally Fitzgibbon (Australia) who had led the whole way. Third placed surfer, Diana Souza (Brazil) was well in contention for the win posting an 8.17 in the final but was later carried from the water after injuring herself.

The result is the best achieved by a Kiwi girl since the World Junior Champs was expanded in 2003. Mason was touted as one of the early event favourites after sealing the Australasian Pro Junior (Under 20) Tour in April with an event to spare. Masons previous best result at the World Junior Championships was 9th in 2004.

The result bodes well for the young female surfers in the New Zealand surfing team. Both Mason and Paige Hareb (Tara) have a further two years remaining in this age group and Wini Paul another one year. On top of this there are a number of girls around New Zealand shores that are snapping at their heals to make the team.

The Rip Curl New Zealand team also secured a podium finish in the ISA Cup (tag team event) earlier in the day placing third. South Africa stormed to victory amassing a record 65 points for their performance eclipsing the previous record set by Australia in the semi finals. The strong Australian team placed second ahead of New Zealand with France in fourth.

Final Placings

Under 18 Girls
1, Pauline Ado, 15.50, FRA
2, Sally Fitzgibbons, 15.06, AUS
3, Diana Souza, 9.50, BRA
4, Airini Mason, 7.33, NZL

Under 18 Boys
1, Julian Wilson, 17.67, AUS
2, Jordy Smith, 16.90, ZAF
3, Caleb R-Boquist, 14.50, AUS
4, Jeremy Flores, 13.87, FRA

Under 16 Boys
1, Owen Wright, 16.20, AUS
2, Alejo Muniz, 11.64, BRA
3, Shaun Joubert, 10.80, ZAF
4, Marc Lacomare, 8.20, FRA

ISA Cup Tag Team
1, South Africa
2, Australia
3, New Zealand
4, France

Overall Team Points (Unofficial)
1, Australia
2, France
3, Brazil
4, Hawaii
5, South Africa
6, USA
7, New Zealand
8, Venezuela
9, Tahiti
10, Portugal

The World Junior Surfing Championships is an annual event having been held since 2003. New Zealand has competed at the event since its inception as well as competing at the World Grommet Titles as it was formerly known since 1989.

New Zealand has been one of the top nations at each event with Jay Quinn (Gis) securing New Zealand’s first World Championship in the Under 18 Men’s division in 2001. New Zealand has placed 7th at the last two World Junior Championships. A record twenty seven countries will compete at the event in 2006.

www.surfingnz.co.nz

Team New Zealand reports
# 1 : New Zealand Juniors set to take on the world in Brazil
# 2 : Captain Christie leads the way for team New Zealand
# 3 : Divers through to U16 last 24 for team NZ at ISA WJSC
# 4 : Mason last Kiwi standing in qualifying rounds of WJSC
# 5 : Conditions & tough competition take toll on Kiwi Team
# 6 : Team New Zealand: Mason keeps Kiwis in the game

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Ben Kennings
benkennings@surfingnz.co.nz

Team news - Surfersvillage