HYUNDAI CEMENTS ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH AUSTRALIAN LONGBOARD SURFING

Hyundai's Qld State Sales Manager Noel Symon (left) hands over the keys to Malfunction organiser Sean Mckeown

for a Hyundai Santa Fe which will be making an appearance at many of the longboard contests. photo B. Knudsen

Malfunction's road to success just got easier

by Bob Anthony

One of Australia's largest longboard events, the Malfunction Surf Festival is hitting the road literally. Thanks to the support of Hyundai, the annual event has gained a mobile billboard in the form of a turbo injected diesel Santa Fe painted in Malfunction colours.

According to Malfunction spokesperson Sean McKeown, the support shown by the car company was further recognition of the stature of the event and its profile on the Australian surfing circuit. "This is further acknowledgement of the growth of longboarding in Australia and the participation in contests such as the Malfunction" McKeown said. "The vehicle will help us promote the Malfunction not only along the Tweed and Gold Coast but at other longboard events we attend."

Hyundai Queensland sales manager Noel Symon handed over the keys to the new vehicle at Duranbah and said it marked a new approach by the company into more community-minded activities.

McKeown said the success of this years event - with the new week-long festival format including activities other than surfing - had proved to be very popular with competitors and spectators. "We are seeing the Malfunction growing again after suffering a bit of a downturn, though the matter of where it will be staged next year is still up for discussion" Mckeown said.

This year the event was held at Rainbow Bay and caused some problems in the water due to the fact there was no clearly designated area exclusively for the longboard competitors.

McKeown said he had met with Gold Coast City lifeguards to address the problem and would be taking the matter up with local councillor Chris Robbins.

"We would dearly love to keep it (the Malfunction) at its traditional home oat Rainbow Bay/Snapper but we also have to realise that this is growing each year and several other locations have expressed interest in hosting it if the Gold Coast City Council can't help us" McKeown said.