Finals Day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Another day another place.  Today is Arawhata Road.  The surf is marginal but the biggest on the coast with 2ft peelers down the point.  Not sure on what the high tide will do but we may even go on standby over the full tide if conditions worsen.  The wind isn't up too much yet - maybe 10 knots but is supposed to reach 30 by tonight so it is a race against time.

There are 14 finals to run today and we already have two of them out of the way.  We will try and keep everyone updated as they happen but no guarantees.

NMD/Vertigo Dropknee Bodyboard - Jarred Ferris (Gis) 
Hot Buttered Junior Bodyboard - Luke Elliot (Mnt)
Ocean and Earth Women's Bodyboard - Poppy Chapman (Wgtn)
NMD/Vertigo Open Bodyboard - Jarred Ferris (Gis)
Hyundai Senior Women - Anna Jolly (Piha)
Hyundai Over 50's - John Gisby (Gis)
Hyundai Over 45s - John Gisby (Gis)
Hyundai Over 40s - Jason Matthews (Tara)
Hyundai Over 35s - Jason Matthews (Tara)
Hyundai Over 28s - Daniel Kereopa (Rag)
Hyundai Longboard - Daniel Kereopa (Rag)
Breakers Bar and Cafe Junior Men - Paco Divers (Sandy Bay)
Hyundai Open Women - Wini Paul
Hyundai Open Men -

12.08...We have been on hold for a while due to the high tide.  Back form assessment at 12.30.  And to top it off we have light drizzle.

1.10pm... Looks like we would be back in action at 1.30pm.  Still drizzling.  just had the word that prize giving will be at Butlers bar and Cafe in Oakura tonight at 6.00pm.  The Coronas will go down smooth after eight long days of competition.

2.10... We are back under way.  Jason Mathews just won his second final of the day!  Now DK is out there whaling the Over 28s with a pair of 7s.  The surf is looking better but still only just contestable.

The results of the Kneeboard Open for the 2007 Hyundai National Champs are as follows:
Heat 1: Ian Walker (Auck) 1; Bryan Wall Button (Tara) 2; Shaun Stanley (Tara) 3.
Heat 2: Josh Christophers (Tara) 1; Craig Hooper (BOP) 2; Phil Miller (Auck) 3; Troy Freeson (Auck) 4.
Heat 3: Cameron Stanley (Tara) 1; Mike Wright (Tara) 2; Steve Tracey Skelton (Tara) 3; Karl Stanley (Tara) 4.
Semi-Final 1: Ian Walker (Auck) 1; Bryan Wallbutton (Tara) 2; Josh Christophers (Tara) 3.
Semi-Final 2:Craig Hooper (BOP) 1; Cameron Stanley (Tara) 2; Mike Wright (Tara) 3
FINAL: Ian Walker (Auck) 1; Craig Hooper (BOP) 2; Bryan Wallbutton (Tara) 3; Cameron Stanley (Tara) 4.

Defending National Champion, Ian Walker (Auck) made it back to back wins in a closely contested Kneeboard Open final at the 2007 Hyundai National Surfing Championships. Walker surfed consistently throughout the event to bring it home for the second year in a row. He didn’t have it all his own way though, with Craig Hooper, Bryan Wallbutton and Cameron Stanley all pushing hard. Eventually, Walker had a clear points win with only half a point separating Hooper and Wallbutton for 2^nd and 3^rd. Cam Stanley, who has shown good form in past events placed a credible 4^th but showed the signs of someone who is needing a bit more wave time.

Doubling up....  title pairs seem to be the in thing this year.  Gisby has taken out two as has Jason Matthews, Daniel Kereopa, Jarred Ferris and Anna Jolly.  One more is up for grabs by Paige Hareb and DK can make it a hat trick - something that has never been achieved before at the Hyundai Nationals.