For immediate release
3rd November 2019
From: Surfing New Zealand
Sport: International Surfing
Event: 2019 VISSLA ISA World Junior Surfing Championship
Divisions: Under 18 and 16 Boys and Girls
Date: 26 October – 3 November 2019
Location: Huntington Beach, California, USA
Websites: ISA World Juniors and Surfing New Zealand
Vette Moves Through to Final Day of World Championships
Another arduous day of competition has seen 17-year-old New Zealand ripper Saffi Vette (Gis) advance through to the final day of competition at the Vissla ISA World Junior Surfing Championships in California, keeping Kiwi hopes alive for a podium finish.
New Zealand now sits in twelfth place overall with results on the final day potentially swinging the final ranking by as many as three places up or down the rankings. A podium finish by Vette would be the first since 2016 when Elin Tawharu won bronze in the Under 16 Girls Division.
Vette surfed through three rounds on the penultimate day of the event being held at Huntington Beach, the small waves under 1.0m in size doing little to hinder the natural-footers performances.
Vette posted heat totals of 12.0, 9.2 and 8.04 in her three heats.
In the final heat of the day, she had to come from behind after sitting in third place to clinch second and advance after surfing her two best rides in the last three minutes of the heat.
“There were small waves coming through and it was super lully so staying patient was the key. I knew that a wave would come to help me progress and I believed that Tangaroa would send me it and a fun left came through and I got the score” Vette said of the scenario that looked like ousting her out of the event.
“I have had to adapt to every heat as the waves change regularly here. I have reset between every heat, I’m staying well rested and hydrated, energised and focussed on the job that needs to be done” she added of her successful approach that has seen her contest six heats in the last two days.
With a further two heat progressions required to qualify for the final, Vette has nothing but that in her sights. “Let’s make it to the final, the team chant is my fire up and the team has been doing a great job supporting me, they are amazing and I’m stoked that I’m making them happy by making heats” added Vette.
Vette will be in action at 3:40am on the final day of the event and will face off against Sara Wakita (JPN), Sanoa Olin (CAN) and Nyxie Ryan (AUS).
Please see below for results from day seven of the 2019 Vissla ISA World Junior Surfing Championship being held at Huntington Beach today (Sunday 3rd November):
Under 18 Girls Division Repechage Round 6
Heat 3
Saffi Vette, NZL, 12, 1, Alyssa Spencer, USA, 11.34, 2, Rachel Presti, GER, 6.77, 3, Kalea Gervasi, PER, 3.47, 4
Under 18 Girls Division Repechage Round 7
Heat 2
Sara Wakita, JPN, 14.34, 1, Saffi Vette, NZL, 9.2, 2, Mathea Olin, CAN, 8.76, 3
Under 18 Girls Division Repechage Round 8
Heat 2
Sanoa Olin, CAN, 10.57, 1, Saffi Vette, NZL, 8.04, 2, Mafalda Lopes, POR, 7.26, 3
Please see below for the day 5 schedule (New Zealand times):
Podium 1 (Live webcast)
3:40am – Saffi Vette – Under 18 Girls Repechage Round 9
6:20am – Under 18 Girls Repechage Round 10
7:50am – Under 18 Girls Grand Final
The team is competing at the 2019 VISSLA ISA World Junior Championship being held at Huntington Beach, California, USA from the 26th October – 3rd November. In 2018 the New Zealand Team placed twelfth overall. Japan stunned the event winning the team title over USA and Australia.
The championship is the largest junior surfing event in the world playing host to over 340 surfers from 44 nations in 2019.
About International Surfing Association (ISA)
The International Surfing Association (ISA) is recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as the World Governing Authority for surfing, bodyboarding, SUP and surfriding. It was originally founded as the International Surfing Federation in 1964 and has been running world championships since 1964, and the Junior World Championships since 1980.
Further Information
For further information on the New Zealand Junior Surfing Team please contact Surfing New Zealand’s Ben Kennings on 021 2278732 or email benkennings@surfingnz.co.nz.
Imagery
High resolution action images of team members will be available to media free of charge upon request.
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