He wants to win a fifth New Zealand title and it could come at St Clair beach tomorrow.
Quinn (34) has won four national titles and is keen to win this year's open men's championship, to equal the record of five titles won by Iain Buchanan and Wayne Parkes since the national championships started in 1963.
Quinn is the best surfer New Zealand has produced and the only one to qualify for the elite World Championship Tour.
He won his first national title at Gisborne in 1996, at the age of 19, and also won the event in 2000 (Gisborne), 2004 (Piha) and 2006 (Kaitaia).
"That's my dream - to get five," he said.
"Then I would be very happy."
Quinn has spent a lot of time in Dunedin and likes the waves at St Clair beach.
His partner, Hayley Hollander, grew up in Dunedin and his 17-month-old son Cooper was born in the city.
"Hayley's family lives here and I've got ties. I come down to Dunedin a lot and to win here would make me really happy," he said.
Quinn demonstrated his skills in the tricky surf by winning his heat at St Clair beach yesterday with scores on his best waves of 4.63 and 4.50.
"The conditions were still pretty wild but the surf was more controlled than yesterday," he said.
"I was unlucky. I got caught on the inside and was doing so many duck dives out there but I managed to squeeze through the heat."
Quinn spent one year on the World Championship Tour in 2002 and is the only New Zealand surfer to reach this standard.
"It was hard and the level of surfing was high," Quinn said.
"You have to keep consistent all year and that is one of the hardest things to do. As soon as you get that, you do well."
In his first World Championship Tour event he finished fifth on the Gold Coast.
He does not expect to get back on the World Tour.
"I'd like to but I'm getting on in years now," he said.
"I'm quite happy with what I'm doing."
He works as a brand ambassador for Quicksilver.
"I'm happy to stay at home and surf different waves here," he said.
Quinn was the first New Zealand surfer to win a World Qualifying Series event when he came first in France in 1999. He also won in Spain.
He believes that his brother Jay, Richard Christie and Billy Stairmand, who were ranked in the top 100 on last year's World Qualifying Series, are all capable of breaking into the top 32 for the World Tour.
"They did well last year and made quarterfinals and finals and Billy won a comp," Quinn said.
Quinn is confident of being able to stay with the top echelon of New Zealand surfers for a few years yet.
"As long as I'm fit and healthy and have good boards under my feet," he said.
"I'm still competitive and have the drive to do well for my sponsors and myself."
Quinn had the drive and determination to become a professional surfer from his primary school days.
"That was my dream as a kid, growing up in Gisborne. It was all I wanted to do," he said.
"I tried to do everything possible to make that happen."
Maz Quinn
At glance
• Age: 34.
• Occupation: Professional surfer.
• Born: Hamilton.
• Home town: Gisborne.
• Family: Hayley Hollander (partner), Cooper (son), Phillipa and Gary (parents), Jay (brother), Holly (sister).
• Education: Gisborne BHS.
• Record: NZ champion 1996, 2000, 2004, 2006; First New Zealander to win world Qualifying Series event (1999); only New Zealander on World Championship Tour (2002).
