Longboarders Kick Off their Competitive Season
DK
celebrating winning in 2007
The 2008 Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour kicks off this weekend (5th – 6th January) at Mount Maunganui – widely regarded as the capital of longboarding in New Zealand. This weekends event is the first of an extended seven-event tour in 2008 that, for the first time, includes Wellington as the location for the penultimate event of the tour.
Last years Mount Maunganui event was cancelled due to small surf but swell forecasts for this weekend suggest a small building swell and organisers are confident of getting the tour underway.
It will be the nations best longboard exponents taking to the water for a piece of glory and early season points toward the end of year ratings. The winner of the Open Men’s division not only claims bragging rights as the best in the country but also drives away in a brand new Hyundai Santa Fe vehicle. Along with the prestigious Open Men’s Division a further four are contested. They include the open women, under 18 men, over 40s and over 50s.
For the first time in New Zealand, stand up paddle boarding will be on exhibition throughout the event. The new craze with Hawaiian origins sees surfers permanently standing on boards ranging in length between 9ft-12ft whilst using a paddle to propel themselves onto waves. While relatively new in New Zealand, stand up paddle boarding is sweeping the world with many surfers adding a board (and paddle) to their quiver of surfboards and adding another fun dimension to their water activities.
Defending Open Men’s Champion Daniel Kereopa of Raglan is a confirmed entrant for the first event of the year and will be looking to replicate the form he showed in 2007. Kereopa is relatively new to longboarding but was one of the first in New Zealand to try stand up paddle boarding. He got 2007 off to the best possible start when he won the longboard division at the Hyundai National Championships. Kereopa then went on to win the Christchurch longboard event and place in the finals in two other events to outpoint 2006 tour winner Michael Fitzharris (Gis) – another entrant this weekend.
The Mount Maunganui leg of the Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour will play host to a raft of top surfers who could easily extend the title race beyond just the two surfers in 2008. Daniel Procter and Michael Burling, both of Gisborne won events in 2007 and provided they bring more consistency to the competitive arena in 2008 they could be title contenders. The two surfers placed fourth and fifth respectively in 2007. Last years third ranked surfer Kelly Ryan also of Gisborne was a consistent performer throughout the year and will again challenge his hometown counterparts for the title.
Local Mount Maunganui surfer Daryn Mcbride won this event in 2006 and is highly regarded in the longboard community for his smooth traditional style in the water. With an increase in the number of events in 2008, a commitment to the tour by Mcbride will see him challenge all comers. Former eight times national longboard champion Lynden Kennings (Piha) is also threatening to contest the entire tour in 2008 which will add yet another dimension to what is shaping up to be the toughest fought series of events yet.
Michael Thompson (Rag) known as ‘Micky T’ by many will want to defend his two titles in the age group divisions. The silky smooth natural footer managed two victories in 2007 and his consistently high placings in other events saw him win both divisions by considerable margins.
With the exit of dynamo surfer Dylan Barnfield (Ohope) from the junior ranks, the new young talent will be able to emerge. Hailing from the same region as Barnfield is Hone Douglas a 12 year old surfer possessing the talent of surfers ten years his senior. The first event this weekend will set the bench mark in the junior division and Douglas will be there or thereabouts when the dust settles.
The women’s division has attracted a good field of surfers from throughout the country as well as Australia. Last years title winner Anna Jolly is absent from the mix but the likes of last year’s runner up Rea Ansin (Auck) and Daisy Thomas (Chch) are sure to impress.
The actual event dates for the 2008 Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour are as follows:
Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour Event 1, Mount Maunganui – 5th – 6th January
Hyundai National Surfing Championships Presented by Quiksilver, Gisborne – 12th – 19th January
Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour Event 3, Sandy Bay – 2nd – 3rd February
Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour Event 4, Christchurch – 16th – 17th February
RnR South Island International Longboard Pro-Am in association with Hyundai, Kaikoura – 14th – 16th March
Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour Event 6, Lyall Bay Wellington – 5th – 6th April
Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour Event 7, Port Waikato – 12th – 13th April