Bobby Hansen Top Kiwi on 2007 WQS

Source: Ben Kennings – Surfing New Zealand -www.surfingnz.co.nz-

Bobby Hansen (Gis) has finished the 2007 Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Qualifying Series (WQS) in 79th place, the highest of the Kiwi males and twelve places higher than his 2006 rating of 91st. 

His rating sees him outshine fellow Gisborne surfer Maz Quinn (90th) as the highest ranked Kiwi, Quinn having held the top position for the past ten years.

Hansen got off to a slow start missing three major events early this year but bounced back with a 13th place finish in Scotland – his best result of the year.  Coincidentally he was eliminated from that event by Jay Quinn (Gis) who placed ninth the best result by any Kiwi this year which helped him to 142nd on the WQS ratings.  

Hansen then went on to post some good results in Europe with three 17th placings, one in France and two in the Canaries.  Going into the final leg of the tour in Hawaii Hansen was sitting at around 90th and needed good results in the last two events to advance his cause.  In the final event of the year, up against the world’s top 44 surfers, Hansen placed a credible 49th in out of control 20ft surf to jump up the ratings. 

The top fifteen surfers on the WQS qualify for the ASP World Tour so Hansen will contest the WQS for another year and hope to further improve on his rating if not qualify for the elite tour.

Quinn finished the year ranked 90th and despite matching his brother’s ninth placing at an event in Portugal he could not find the consistency to match that result at other events around the globe. 
In the final event Quinn posted a 25th placing.  Jay Quinn fell into a similar predicament posting two good results this year including a number of excellent heat wins.  However, Quinn could not replicate these performances day after day as is required on the tour.  Quinn did not have a high enough ranking to enter the Hawaiian events. 

Other Kiwi surfers to feature on the WQS ratings are Muriwai’s Rowan Aish at 467th after competing in four of the seven events counted towards each surfers final ratings and Matt Scorringe (WGM) at 602nd after competing in four events also.

Airini Mason tops the final girls WQS rankings for the Kiwis in 62nd place having surfed three of the five events counted toward the women’s ratings.  

Paige Hareb (Tara) is ranked 67th having competed in four events and Mischa Davis is ranked 81st having also competed in four events.  The top six female surfers on the WQS qualify for the elite Women’s World Tour where the top 16 surfers battle it out for the World Championship.


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