Drollet Wins Shortboard Discipline   17 Mar 2015

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

16 March, 2015

Drollet Wins Shortboard Discipline in the Ultimate Waterman

Cyclone Pam delivered flawless waves on the Coromandel Peninsula today (Monday 16th February) with Tahitian surfer Manoa Drollet claiming the second discipline contested in The Ultimate Waterman driven by Subaru – the shortboard division.

The eight athletes enjoyed perfect 2.0m tubes at an isolated beach in the northern Coromandel that requires a cyclone with intensity such as Pam to break.

The day started out with a trip south from Auckland in driving rain and gale winds. Upon reaching the East Coast it was evident that cyclone had delivered a massive swell to the region.

After several surf checks up and down the coast, assessing conditions and trying to maximise the size of the swell, a decision was made to hold the shortboard division at Otama which had the best conditions on offer.

Drollet started slowly in the two-hour eight-man heat but 30 minutes in the Tahitian dropped into a perfect righthand barrel for a 9.0 point ride. Paddling out one minute later he latched onto another score to take a healthy lead. However it was at the midway mark that he stamped his authority on the day with another excellent 8.5 point ride which was enough to clinch the discipline, his double whammy meaning double points.

As a result of the win Drollet joins Danny Ching (USA) at the front of the pack after two of six disciplines contested.

“I had a great day out there, I am just stoked to win a division. The barrels today were so fun and all the guys got some great waves. I am just happy to be here in New Zealand with all the guys, thanks for having me,” said Drollet as he accepted his victory in front of his peers.

Australian Mark Visser (Sunshine Coast) challenged Drollet for the lead with the day’s only perfect ten point ride. Visser dropped into a rare left-hander and emerged from the barrel mere meters from the sand. Another fantastic barrel saw Visser come up just short of Drollet but a second placing in his double whammy division saw him jump to third overall on the rankings.

Kai Lenny (HAW) remained consistent with his performances today placing third just ahead of local surfer Daniel Kereopa (NZL) in fourth. Both surfers took a while to find their feet in the line up but got busy in the late stages to climb up the rankings.

Kereopa took the heaviest wipeout of the day going over the falls and having his board bash him in the lip splitting it open.

Hawaiian legend Kala Alexander started the final in style taking an early lead but ultimately finished in fifth place ahead of Connor Baxter (HAW) in sixth, Danny Ching (USA) in seventh and Georges Cronsteadt (TAH) in eighth.

With the cyclone tracking further south toward the South Island a decision has been made to mobilise to the Otago region first thing on Tuesday. It is anticipated that Cyclone Pam will deliver more excellent conditions for our international surfers.

Four more divisions are yet to be contested – stand up paddleboard surfing, longboarding, big wave surfing and stand up paddle board racing.

Please see below for overall points after two of six disciplines.
1= Danny Ching (USA), 2,528*1
1= Manoa Drollet (TAH), 2,528*
3. Mark Visser (AUS), 2,275*
4.Georges Cronsteadt (TAH), 2,170*
5. Kai Lenny (HAW), 1,400
6. Connor Baxter (HAW), 1,285
7. Daniel Kereopa (NZL), 1,253
8. Kala Alexander (HAW), 1,033
*Denotes double whammy division completed

ends

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