VQS Grand Champs
 

VQS
Ruapuke Beach New Zealand
22 April 2007

Raglan Surfer to Represent NZ at $100,000 VQS World Titles!

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 26 April, 2007 : - -  Local surfer Leon Santorik blasted his way to victory in Volcom’s VQS Grand Championships at Ruapuke Beach on Sunday with a flawless 10 point ride in the dying minutes of the final. The popular 25 year-old defeated fellow local and favorite Zennor Wenham in excellent 1.5 meter conditions to earn a place in the US$100,000 VQS World Titles to be held at Newport Beach California in May.

“I’m so stoked to have won and to now have the chance to represent New Zealand at the VQS World Titles,” said an elated Santorik before adding “And a little bit of that hundred grand wouldn’t be too bad either.”

Santorik was always considered one of the dark horses going into the VQS Grand Championships, the climax to a series of regional surfing events staged in Wellington, Gisborne and Raglan throughout 2006, but even after defeating current National Champion Daniel Kereopa in the semi finals he still went into the most important heat of the day as the slight underdog.

Opening his final with a devastating off the lip re-entry that drew hoots from the entire beachfront, Santorik was pegged back on the very next wave by former VQS Champion Zennor Wenham. Like he had throughout the day Wenham then set to work on some of the smaller inside waves to consolidate on his opening ride.

With just on two minutes remaining and with Wenham beginning to look comfortable in the lead, Santorik paddled into the wave of the day and went ballistic, executing aggressive and committed maneuvers from beginning to end and receiving surfing’s highest accolade for the effort – a perfect 10 points from all three judges.

“I knew I was looking at a good score but it’s always surprising to hear that you’ve got a 10. Yeah, it’s a good way to win that’s for sure.” Joining Santorik on the plane to California is Matt Hewitt who won the VQS Grand Championships Junior Division. Taking out Keone Campbell in the junior final which almost matched the opens in terms of action.

In the girls division Jessica Santorik made it a double for the family taking out good friend Kara Stevens while in the 14 and under Alex Dive defeated Tane Wallace.

RESULTS

OPENS
1. Leon Santorik
2. Zennor Wenham

JUNIORS
1. Matt Hewitt
2. Keone Campbell

GIRLS
1. Jessica Santorik
2. 2. Kara Stevens

GROMS
1. Alex Dive
2. Tane Wallace

www.volcom.com

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