Surfing: Quinn climbs international rankings

Jay Quinn has risen 57 places to finish the 2011 Association of Surfing Professionals World Tour ranked 41st and the highest ranked Kiwi.

Travelling companion and fellow Gisborne surfer Richard Christie finished the year two places back in 43rd, while Raglan surfer Billy Stairmand finished the year ranked 79th. Official rankings were released after the final event was completed on Sunday.

Christie jumped up the rankings 22 places from 2010, while Stairmand finished 11 places outside his 2010 year-end ranking of 68th.

"You're always going to look at some key moments in the year and think what if, but there are so many positives to take away and work on for next year'' Quinn said of his ascent up the rankings thanks in part to two big results at prime-rated European events - a third in the Azores and a fifth in Ericeira.

Despite missing the final two Hawaiian events of the year due to the birth of his first child, Quinn jumped two places up the rankings to finish in his best ever position. The ranking is only four places behind what his older brother Maz achieved in 2002 when finishing the year in 37th.

The highest ranked Kiwi surfer ever is Iain Buchanan who placed 36th on the world tour in the early 1980s.

"I don't by any means want to take any emphasis off those guys and their amazing achievements on the ASP World Tour. They were on the elite tour and I have not made that yet. I feel I have the ability. It now comes down to mental and physical fitness. It is a tough new system, but I think the current few Kiwi boys there are ready to take the next step,'' Quinn said.

Christie echoed Quinn's sentiments about the past 12 months that, for him, have included some key moments such as a third-place finish at a prime event in Brazil as well as an impressive ninth at the US Open - one of the biggest and most popular surfing events in the world. However the competitive nature of Christie has him striving to achieve greater feats in 2012.

"My final ranking of 43rd would have been good a couple years ago but I can't think like that. It was a sure improvement on last year and one step closer to my dream of qualification ... all I can do is take the positives and negatives from the year and use them to build strength for my 2012 campaign. Fourth time lucky, it's time to get on that thing already,'' said Christie in reference to breaking into the elite ranks.

Surfers have to finish inside the top 32 surfers in the world to qualify for the elite level events and contest for the World Title leaving Quinn and Christie nine and 11 places respectively outside the top echelon.

All three surfers are expected to contest the Hyundai National Surfing Championships at Piha Beach, Auckland, which start on January 15. Quinn is the defending champion of the open men's division.