By Jeff McTainsh
Stormy conditions have proved a real test for surfers on day two of the Junior World Championships at Piha.
The under 16 boys and under eighteen girls divisions had to be postponed and it has been a mixed day for the Kiwis.
It wasn't just the rough surf Kiwi Alex Dive had to deal with in his second round heat, but also the quality of competition, up against one of the favourites in Brazil's Gabriel Medina.
The 17-year-old hung tough, qualifying in second place behind Medina.
“It was like the hardest heat in the whole second round, I don't even know who made that, I think Gabriel was in there and a couple of others, so to come second was just amazing,” says Mr Dive.
After a delayed start, Mr Dive had made the most of the conditions stringing together a score of eleven out of twenty, enough to get him into the third round.
“We paddled out about 12 minutes early and just sat there getting absolutely smashed but then I managed to get a few and to get through is just amazing, I can't believe it.”
France's junior world champion Maxime Huscenot survived his second round heat, but fellow Kiwi Johnny Hicks was not so lucky, finishing fourth. Mr Dive is now the only New Zealand hope in the boys under 18 division, though that was a surprise to him.
“I seriously had no idea, you can’t hear a thing out there, you have no idea what anyone has got and I heard everyone cheering and giving me support and I was just paddling around like a maniac,” says Mr Dive.
The girls’ event was due to start today, but conditions have meant that it was just too rough and dangerous to make a start, with organisers having to reschedule.
With the surf expected to improve over the weekend, organisers are hoping to get the girls’ event underway on Sunday.
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