Kibblewhite leading Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour ratings
Thomas Kibblewhite : photo Slide Magazine
The Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour ratings have just been released and take on a
new look with Auckland’s Thomas Kibblewhite taking the helm with two runner
up placings at the first two events of the year.
The third event of the tour takes place this weekend at Sandy Bay, Whangarei and may well be the pivotal point of the seven event tour for many surfers with the next two events being held in the South Island. The Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour has in recent years been dominated by Gisborne’s Michael Fitzharris (winner in 2006) and more recently Raglan’s Daniel Kereopa (winner in 2007).
Kereopa will contest this year’s event and is currently sitting third on the ratings after two events however Fitzharris is a glaring omission from the heat draw. Fitzharris is passing up on the event to take his daughter to another surfing competition being held at Mount Maunganui.
There are seven events on the Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour in 2008 and it is possible for surfers to miss up to two events with each surfers top five results counting toward their year end rating. However the signs are that Fitzharris will be taking a back seat in 2008 attending only selected events. This may open the door for new blood at the top of New Zealand longboarding.
Kereopa was outwardly frustrated at his early elimination at the Hyundai National Championships presented by Quiksilver last month. His demise sees him drop to third behind leader Kibblewhite and young Ohope surfer Dylan Barnfield. Kereopa will be eager to redeem himself with a good result this weekend.
Kibblewhite and Barnfield on the other hand have been consistent over the first two events with Kibblewhite securing two seconds and Barnfield securing a pair of thirds. Further good results and finishes ahead of Kereopa will strengthen their ratings.
Daniel Procter (Gis) won the Sandy Bay leg of the Tour in 2007 to take his maiden tour victory. Procter sits in 8th place on the ratings this year and will need to beat the front runners to remain in the race for the tour title and a chance to win the Hyundai Santa Fe. Other surfers to have looked particularly sharp at the first two events include Kelly Ryan (Gis), junior surfer Sam Guthrie (Mnt) and Ant McColl (Mnt).
With only small waves forecast for this weekend, the event winners may require a bit of luck from mother nature as well as a slick small wave act. This is where local knowledge of Sandy Bay comes into play and with this event always attracting record numbers and huge support from local surfers, the winner may well come from the Northland region.
In the women’s division Daisy Thomas (Chch) continues her journey around the country as she seeks a third straight win on the tour – something that has never been achieved in recent years. Sam Guthrie is in the same position as Thomas with two wins under his belt in the junior men’s division. However for Guthrie to break any records he will need to win more than four events in a row, a feat achieved by Dylan Barnfield in 2007.
The Over 40’s and 50’s divisions are always hotly contested at Sandy Bay with a number of surfers attending their annual surfing event. Both Lynden Kennings and Fitzharris will be absent from the Over 40s leaving a gaping hole for a new winner while local Whangarei surfer Viv Tracey will hope to repeat his win from event one and stave off tough competition from the likes of Mike Thomson (Rag) and David Storck (Piha).
Current ratings on the 2008 Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour are set out below. For full ratings please go to http://www.surfingnz.co.nz/ratings_3.htm.
Open Men’s Longboard
1, Thomas Kibblewhite (Auck)
2, Dylan Barnfield (Ohope)
3, Daniel Kereopa (Rag)
4, Kelly Ryan (Gis)
5, Sam Guthrie (Mnt)
6, Ant McColl (Mnt)
7, Jay Quinn Gis)
8, Daniel Proctor (Gis)
8, Kirk Beyer (Wgtn)
10, Duncan Cameron (Mnt)
Open Women’s Longboard
1, Daisy Thomas (Chch)
2, Michelle Langdon (Mnt)
3, Belinda Galley (Napier)
4, Shereen Lobb (Port Wai)
5, Rea Ansin (Auck)
Under 18 Men’s Longboard
1, Sam Guthrie (Mnt)
2, Hone Douglas (Whakatane)
3, Rick Williamson (Ohope)
4, Tyler Anderson (Tara)
5, Sam Hawke (ChCh)
Over 40 Men’s Longboard
1, Lynden Kennings (Piha)
2, Michael Fitzharris (Gis)
3, Mike Thomson (Rag)
4, Mal Brady (North)
5=, David Storck (Auck)
5=, Grant Cochrane (ChCh)
Over 50 Men’s Longboard
1, Viv Treacy (Ocean Beach)
2, David Storck (Auck)
3, Mike Thomson, (Rag)
4, Grant Cochrane (ChCh)
5=, Ian Parker (Auck)
5=, Warwick Gray (Waihi Bch)
The remaining event dates
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
Hyundai have been involved with Surfing New Zealand since 2004 and also sponsor the most prestigious event in New Zealand – The Hyundai National Championships presented by Quiksilver. However the focus is on longboarding and this year the tour will be televised on Maori Television with half hour shows dedicated to each event. Stay tuned for up coming dates for the shows.
For more information on the Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour please contact Ben Kennings on 021 2278732 or email benkennings@surfingnz.co.nz. Alternatively, please contact Hyundai Marketing Manager Darren Kirkland on 64 9 573 2050 or dkirkland@hyundai.co.nz.