BOBBY/ HANSEN
Makorori’s favourite son Bobby Hansen was a grommet prodigy who was expected to pick up the mantle of Maz Quinn. Bobby was unstoppable as a junior winning the U14, U16 and U18 national titles multiple times. As a 15-year-old Bobby set a record that has yet to be beaten by winning the U16, U18 and Open title at the biggest competition at the time the 2001 Mahia Easter Classic. In 2000 as a 14-year-old Bobby went on to place 4th at the Quiksilver World Grommet Titles and followed up in 2001 with a 2nd place in the U16’s only months after shoulder reconstruction. Over the next few years Bobby had a total of 4 shoulder reconstruction surgeries which saw him with more time out of the water than in it. Still Bobby performed remarkably well in the Australasian Pro Junior series constantly beating some of the biggest names off the sport. He then went on to compete on the WQS tour where he picked up a career best place of 3rd in the 4,000 Vendee Surf Pro WQS in France and finished ranked as high as 79th in 2007. Bobby also won the NZ National Circuit in 2012. Bobby was also awarded the wild card into the Rip Curl Padang Cup in 2013 where he went as far as the quarter finals against the best tube riders in the world.