Volcom Stone's VQS Championships - Volcom to Paradise

The 2010 VQS Championships were held at Manly Beach over the past weekend with perfect 2 to 4 foot waves over the two days of competition. Surfers from all over Australia and New Zealand came to compete in the hope of taking out the title.

The first day of competition was Friday the 16th of April and it was a day not to be forgotten by all who came to compete. With the swell on the rise and a perfect skate park of peaks on offer all divisions were chomping at the bit to get out there and rip into it.

Shane Holmes

Jack Scollard

First up was the Grom division and these little ankle snappers didn't disappoint the huge crowd on the beach! Grommets like Bodi Smith, Connor Gale and Jordan Lawler were on fire from the get go, posting massive scores in the excellent range. It soon became evident we were to have one of the best contested Grom division’s the VQS champs have ever seen.

Luke Hynd

Next up we had the Girls division followed by the Juniors and Opens, with both winners receiving a return airfare to the USA to compete in the World VQS champs in California.

Raine Jackson

Not only were the competitors stoked with the day’s proceedings, but so too were all the fans that came down to join in the festivities that the event had on offer. There were all sorts of fun and games going on throughout the day with pass the Pineapple, coconut bowling and the famous Volcom Putt-off, you would have been mistaken for thinking you were at a resort. It seemed like everyone that came down on the first day of the event went home with a prize and a huge smile on their face.

Pass the Pineapple

Resort style Pool

Saturday the 17th we awoke to another perfect day with the sun shining and the waves pumping. We knew it was going to go down as one of the best VQS champs to date.

It seemed like the competitors that made it through had stepped it up a gear on day two of the event and with Electric throwing down $500 for the best manoeuvre of the event, surfers in every division were not holding back. In the end, it was local surfer Dan Karen who took home the Electric Bolt thrower award for pulling off a massive Passion Pop in his Quarter final heat.

With the day’s proceedings coming to an end, it was time to surf the finals. By this time the crowed on the beach had tripled, there must have been 5000 people cheering with each wave ridden.

Flamingo Slushy Bar

First out was the Girls final with Skye Burgess and Audrey Lane. These two girls were on fire from round one all the way through to the final but it was Skye that got the better waves in the final and took home the win from Audrey.

Skye Burgess

Next up were the Grommet’s with Luke Hynd up against Narrabeen local Jordan Lawler. It was Luke Hynde that landed the first blow with a solid right hander that he smashed all the way to shore and was rewarded a massive 8 point ride and then backed it straight up with a solid 5 point ride. He was looking good to take home the winners trophy but it wasn’t to be because you can never count out the very talented Lawler! He posted two 8 point rides in the last 5 minutes of the final and took home the VQS national Grommet title.

Jordan Lawler

Next up we had the Junior final with two very talented surfers. One from Avalon Beach in Sydney named Beau Cram and the other from Merewether Beach in Newcastle named Jake Sylvester, who had won the prestigious Junior title last year. Both of these surfers surfed their hearts out, knowing that if they won this final they would get a return airfare to the USA to compete in the VQS World Champs in California next month. In the end it was Jake Sylvester who picked off a heat winning wave half way through the final to secure first place and another chance to compete in the USA to try and take home the World VQS title.

Beau Cram

Jake Sylvester

Last but not least we had the Pro Am Final with the local underdog from Long Reef, Robbie France up against one of the best up and coming surfers in Australia, Chris Friend. The Final was a seesawing battle with the lead changing with each wave ridden. Every time Robby France was on a wave the crowd on the beach would erupt, I think everyone from Long Reef was on the beach cheering him on! By the time the hooter rang everyone was split on who took home the win and when the judges sheets were tallied it was a 3 way count back and once again they needed to be looked over and after they were added for the second time it was the underdog from Long Reef Robbie France that edged out Friend for the Win.

Robbie France

Good luck to Robbie and Jake who both received return airfares to compete in the World VQS Champs next month in California.

1st Place Skye Burgess

2nd Place Audrey Lane

1st Place Jordan Lawler

2nd Place Luke Hynd

1st Place Jake Sylvester

2nd Place Beau Cram

1st Place Robbie France

2nd Place Chris Friend

Once again thanks to everyone that competed and came down to make the 2010 champs such a fun day. And look forward to see you along the way on the VQS Crustaceous Tour 2010/2011.

Thanks to our VQS Crustaceous Tour Supports

http://www.electricvisual.com

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http://www.redbull.com.au

http://www.solrx.com.au

http://chillisurfboards.com

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http://lush-productions.blogspot.com

VQS NZ QUALIFIER WAS HELD AT RUAPUKE WINNERS SCORED RETURN AIRFARE TO AUSTRALIA

The last event for the 2009/2010 VQS Crustaceous Tour was held at Raglan, New Zealand. Due to small conditions on the point we were forced to hold the event at the back beach, Ruapuke. The conditions were small on the day, reaching about 1-2 foot. Some say that is as small as it gets, but there were still some contestable waves all the same.

There was a great turn out from around the country and some of New Zealand’s best surfers were on hand for a chance to win the competition and gain entry and an air ticket to this weekend’s VQS Championships at Manly Beach in Australia.

The conditions suited the groms with all finalists deserving, especially young Taine Craig-Ranga making his first ever final. A special mention goes out to the young twins competing in their first ever contest, it was great to see. But it was the older brother of Taine, Kahu Craig-Ranga who took out first place ahead of Levi Stewart, Kehu Butler and Taine Craig-Ranga.

With the New Zealand National Title on for the girls in Taranaki, we thought that the girls’ field would have been affected, but there were still some talented surfers that turned out on the day. Local Raglan surfer Tessa Randrup had her first major final win and was stoked to have a chance to head to Sydney this weekend. 2^nd place went to Amy Kotch, 3^rd place went to India Wray-Murane and in 4^th place was Kara Steveson.

The Junior division once again had a strong field of surfers from around New Zealand, with some solid surfing throughout the day. It was Blake Myers who took out the final ahead of Fintan Cram, Johnny Hicks and Todd Doyle.

The Pro Am division definitely struggled in the smaller conditions, but there were still some good waves to be had if you picked the right one. Alex Dive looked strong all day, picking off the waves and taking out the win ahead of Daniel Kereopa (“DK”), Rangi Ormond and Timmy O’connor.

It was a great day with loads of giveaways for the local kids. The BBQ was firing all day, we even cooked up some fresh mussels for afternoon tea. The winners from this event have all qualified for the VQS Championships and received return airfares to Australia this weekend to compete. If they go on to win the Championships they will be flown to California, USA to compete in the world VQS Championships in May 2010.

We wish all of the finalists from throughout Australia and New Zealand competing in this weekend’s VQS Championships the best of luck.

Groms

1^st Place Kahu Craig-Ranga

2^nd Place Levi Stewart

3^rd Place Kehu Butler

4^th Place Taine Craig-Ranga

Girls

1^st Place Tessa Randrup

2^nd Place Amy Kotch

3^rd Place India Wray-Murane

4^th Place Kara Steveson

Juniors

1^st Place Blake Myers

2^nd Place Fintan Cram

3^rd Place Johnny Hicks

4^th Place Todd Doyle

Pro – Am

1^st Place Alex Dive

2^nd Place DK

3^rd Place Rangi Ormond

4^th Place Timmy O’connor

Thanks to our supporters for this VQS season:

http://www.electricvisual.com

http://www.vestalwatches.com

http://www.globe.tv

http://www.Aerial7.com

http://www.futuresfins.com

http://www.redbull.com.au

http://www.solrx.com.au

http://www.famouswax.com