Billy Crowned VQS Champ

Raglan, Manu Bay NZ - 4/28/08

Competitors who qualified for Volcom Stone’s VQS Grand Championships could hardly believe their eyes when they rocked up at Manu Bay, Raglan to be greeted by a solid six foot groundswell fanned by light offshores for the day’s competition.

In pumping waves that mirrored the South African Grand Champs, surfers in all four divisions quickly asserted why they’d made the cut shredding the daylights out of anything that moved. And despite a few rain squalls and a few moments of bumpy face the surf throughout the day got better all the way through till the finals which scored the absolute cream.

In a stunning display of aggressive backhand lip mutilation Raglan local Billy Stairmand totally dominated the Open Pro Am final, leaving 2006 VQS Grand Champ Zennor Wenham (also Raglan) in the foam dust to book his spot at the VQS World’s in Newport Beach California on May 9. Billy’s performance drew massive hoots from the large crowd on the point as he blasted, smashed, ripped and lacerated his way to victory.

One floater in particular saw him land within inches of an exposed rock head only to see him set rail and launch into another upside down fin wafting pocket snap. “It was a pretty sketchy floater but I was feeling pretty confident cause I already had a few waves under my belt so I just thought I better go for it,” laughed Stairmand at the presso, before adding. “Man I am so stoked to win. I can’t believe I’m going to America. I’m definitely gonna make it count. I’d love to get my hands on some of that 100 grand.”