By Ben Kennings – Surfing New Zealand – www.surfingnz.co.nz

The top surfers in New Zealand contested the first event of the Sol Surf Series at Gisborne in stormy conditions on 6 and 7 November.

Gisborne's Jay Quinn topped off the briefest of home stopovers by winning the event. In doing so he is the first surfer to secure a crucial spot in the Sol Super 16 that completes the Series in April 2011.

Jess Santorik took out the Open Women’s Division and Tane Wallis the Under 20 Men division.

Sean Peggs claimed the overall series for the Under 20 Men’s Division. 

Open Men's Final

Jay Quinn, Gis, (12.93) 1, Blair Stewart, Gis, (11.5) 2, Tim O'Connor, Mnt, (9.33) 3, Alex Dive, Mnt, (4.90) 4 

Under 20 Men's Final

Tane Wallis, Piha, (14.97) 1, Sean Peggs, Tairua, (14.43) 2, Tyler Lawson, H-Bay, (11.17) 3, Johnny Hicks, Gis, (9.93) 4 

Open Women's Final

Jessica Santorik, Rag, (12.17) 1, Grace Spiers, Whmata, (10.50) 2, Laura Rishworth, Mnt, (8.33) 3, Alexis Poulter, Rag, (6.33) 4 

Tim O'Connor and Leon Santorik (Ngati Toa) went wave for wave at the Auahi Kore Aotearoa Maori Titles with O'Connor getting the nod scoring 17.00 out of a possible 20 points for a well deserved win. 

The final day of the event was played out in clean 1.0m waves at Manu Bay, Raglan under blazing sun that saw the natural amphitheatre packed full of spectators come finals time.

Billabong Open Men's Division Final

Tim O'Connor (Mnt), 1, Leon Santorik (Ngati Toa), 2, Daniel Kereopa (Tainui), 3, Matt Bennett (Ngaiterangi), 4 

Roxy Open Women's Final

Jessica Santorik (Ngati Toa), 1, Kelly Clarkson (Te Arawa), 2, Renee Lee (Nga Puhi), 3 

Quiksilver Under 18 Boys Final

4 and 5 December will see the Rip Curl GromSearch take place at Piha Beach, Auckland.  It is the last event of the year and also the last on the SNZ Grommet Series so a tonne of bragging rights rest on the final event.  Entry forms will be up on the SNZ website on 16 November on the SNZ website – www.surfingnz.co.nz.

Surfing New Zealand recently hosted Martin Dunn of Australia who facilitated the ISA Level Two Surf Instructors Course. Thirty of the country’s top coaches attended the two-day course.

An ISA Level One Surf Instructors Course will take place at Mount Maunganui on the 27-28 November.  The course is already at capacity. 

A new national policy statement will give councils clearer direction on protecting and managing New Zealand’s coastal environment, including our top surf breaks, says Minister of Conservation Kate Wilkinson. 

The policy attracted significant interest and the list was developed by the Board of Inquiry after taking submissions from national surfing organizations and individual surfers, as well as related environmental evidence.

The surf breaks listed come from seven regions: 

Otago: The Spit, Karitane, Whareakeake (Murdering Bay), Papatowai;

Kaikoura: Mangamaunu, Meatworks;

Taranaki: Stent Road breaks, Waiwhakaiho;

Gisborne: Makorori Point, Wainui breaks, The Island;

Raglan: Manu Bay, Whale Bay, Indicators;

Coromandel: Whangamata Bar;

The Surfing New Zealand AGM is being held at Sunset Motel, Bankart Street, Raglan from 9:30am on 20 November.  All information in regards to the meeting is hosted on the SNZ website - www.surfingnz.co.nz

The 2011 Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour has received sanctioning from Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Australasia with the most popular event of the tour held at Sandy Bay, Whangarei, being granted a 1-star Longboard Qualifying Series (LQS) rating. The news comes as five venues are confirmed to host events in 2011 making for yet another performance-filled summer of longboard surfing.

The launch of the tour follows Hyundai's confirmation of their commitment to the sport of surfing and Surfing New Zealand for another year.

The complete calendar of events for the 2011 Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour is as follows:

Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour Event 1, 8-9 January, Piha (4-star)

Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour Event 2, 13-16 January, Dunedin (5-star)

Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour Event 3, 4-6 February, Sandy Bay (SNZ 6-star / ASP LQS 1-star)

Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour Event 4, 19-20 February, Mount Maunganui (4-star)

Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour Event 5, 4-5 March, Port Waikato (6-star)

DB Breweries Ltd has announced that its Mexican beer brand Sol will be a major sponsor of Surfing New Zealand this summer.

The news comes as Surfing New Zealand commenced an exciting summer of events that started this month.

The dates of the 2010/11 Sol Series events are as follows:

Sol Series Event 1 - 6-7 November - O'Neill Sequence Surf Shop Pro, Gisborne (4-star)

Sol Series Event 2 - 13-16 January - Hyundai National Championships, Dunedin (5-star)

Sol Series Event 3 - 29-31 January - Billabong Pro presented by Sony, Whangamata (6-star)

Sol Series Event 4 - 12-13 February - Power Balance Pro, Mount Maunganui (4-star)

Sol Series Event 5 - 11-13 March - Rip Curl Pro, Raglan (6-star)