Closest Finale Ever For Longboarders

 
Mount Maunganui surfer Daryn McBride riding the nose at his home break during
the first event of the Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour for 2008.
pic courtesy Slide Magazine.

The 2008 Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour wraps up at Sunset Beach, Port Waikato this weekend (12th – 13th April).  After the six events held so far this year, the title contenders have been whittled down to three surfers – one a piece from Mount Maunganui, Raglan and Gisborne.  The 2008 title will basically come down to the highest placed surfer between Daryn Mcbride (Mnt), Daniel Kereopa (Rag) and Michael Burling (Gis).

The three international superstars currently surfing through New Zealand – Bonga Perkins (Haw), Jackson Close (Aus) and Harley Ingleby (Aus) will want to prove that last weekends losses to the Kiwi surfers was a one off.  All three surfers will contest the final event of the tour before flying back to their homelands and abroad to compete on the ASP World Longboard Tour.

Daryn Mcbride jumped to the lead on the ratings after his win last weekend at the Wellington leg of the tour.  In small conditions, Mcbride defeated his two closest rivals Kereopa and Burling who finished second and third respectively with Hawaiian Bonga Perkins in fourth.

Gisborne’s Michael Fitzharris strolled to a tour win in 2006 when he went into the final event having already sewn up first place.  In 2007 Kereopa battled Fitzharris for the title.  Both surfers made the final of the last event with Fitzharris taking line honours in third ahead of Kereopa in fourth.  However Kereopa’s lead was too big prior to the event and he won the tour.

This weekend three surfers will vie for the title.  A win by either of Mcbride, Kereopa or Burling will obviously win them the event but also the 2008 Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour.  Should the three surfers not win the event then there are a number of different scenario’s that could unfold.

By no mean’s is the final event this weekend just a three horse race!  The likelihood of another surfer winning the event is a good possibility.  Of the leading bunch of surfers, Mcbride has had the most success this year winning two events with Kereopa and Burling a win a piece.  Daniel Procter (Gis) and Jay Quinn (Gis) have also won events and Procter will be one surfer to watch this weekend.  Other surfers to have come agonisingly close to wins this year include Thomas Kibblewhite (Auck), Dylan Barnfield (Ohope) and Ant McColl (Mnt).  Any of these surfers could bring a stellar performance to the beach this weekend and upset the favourites.

Also coming to the fore this weekend are the old hands of 2007 tour champion Michael Fitzharris (Gis) and Lynden Kennings (WGM) who are both rumoured to be making an appearance on the tour for the second time this year.  The two surfers, both in their forties, have amassed 14 national longboard titles between them since the discipline was included in the National Championships in 1987.

The title race for the four additional divisions contested on the Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour were all decided at the Wellington event last weekend.  In the women’s division Christchurch’s Daisy Thomas has clinched the tour title ahead of Claire Norman (Aus) who has travelled to New Zealand to contest five events this year.

Four straight wins at the start of the year by Mount Maunganui’s Sam Guthrie has clinched him the under 18 boys title.  Despite not making finals at the last two events Guthrie has a massive lead and he will definitely want to finish the tour on a high this weekend.  Young dynamo Hone Douglas (Whaka) holds down second place.

Mike Thomson (Rag) is set to retain his over 40 men’s title with an unassailable lead ahead of Piha’s David Storck.  Thomson hasn’t placed outside the finals all year clocking up two wins including a win at the most recent event in Wellington.

Viv Treacy (Sandy Bay) is in the same position – well ahead of his peers in the over 50 men’s division.  David Storck is again the closest rival to Treacy currently sitting in second place and he will want to stave off the likes of Mike Thomson who is close behind in third.

The surf conditions this weekend are looking great for Port Waikato with light offshore winds predicted and a 1.0m swell forecast.  Surfing will take place on both Saturday and Sunday from 8.00am until 4.00pm.  Prize giving will be held at the beach at the conclusion of the finals on Sunday afternoon.

Please see below for the top rated surfers in each division after the most recent event held at Wellington’s Titahi Bay.  For full ratings please go to http://www.surfingnz.co.nz/ratings_17.htm.

Open Men’s Top Ten

1, Daryn Mcbride (Mnt), 6385

2, Daniel Kereopa (Rag), 6165

3, Michael Burling (Gis), 5968

4, Thomas Kibblewhite (Auck) 5465

5, Dylan Barnfield (Ohope), 5420

6, Daniel Proctor (Gis), 5365

7, Sam Johnson (Gis), 4860

8, Kirk Beyer (Wgtn), 4755

9, Sam Guthrie (Mnt), 4719

10, Ant McColl (Mnt), 4305

Open Women Top Five

1, Daisy Thomas (ChCh), 7580

2, Claire Norman (Sydney), 6845

3, Kirstie Thomsen (Whangarei), 4770

4, Shereen Lobb (Port Wai), 4610

5, Belinda Galley (Gis), 4065

Under 18 Men Top 5

1, Sam Guthrie (Mnt), 7720

2, Hone Douglas (Whakatane), 6167

3, Rick Williamson (Ohope), 5203

4, Sam Hawke (ChCh), 5005

5, Eli Barnfield (Ohope), 4010

Over 40s Top Five

1, Mike Thomson (Rag), 7105

2, David Storck (Auck), 4385

3, Stephen Tyro (ChCh), 4365

4, Mal Brady (Mnt), 4095

5, Dave Burbage (Ham), 4015

Over 50s Top Five

1, Viv Treacy (Ocean Beach), 7460

2, David Storck (Auck), 5755

3, Mike Thomson (Rag), 5458

4, Grant Cochrane (ChCh), 4411

5, Warwick Gray (Waihi Bch), 4303