2006 Central Surf Single Fin Classic   

Manu Schafer wins Central Surf Single Fin Classic Open

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 13 March, 2006 : - - Each year this Single Fin Surfing Contest brings a few surprises. This year was no exception with the weather for the event on the day extreme to say the least.

A cold southerly storm with gale force winds and rain had come up the South Island on the Friday 3rd March and stretched into Saturday as well .In the morning of the contest on Saturday the 4th March with no Surf on local town beaches the call was to head north up the Canterbury coast to Waikuku Beach which was a bit more sheltered from the wind.

This is the first time the event has had to be moved in the last five years it has been run. A lot of surfers have grown up learning and riding these kinds of surfboards of yester year so why not let them loose on a more modern day version of the single fin .Spectators saw what could be done as a mixture of modern and retro moves were being performed from the competitors throughout the day.
 
A prize pool of over $4500 had been sourced from Sponsors such as Central Surf Shop, Quiksilver,Roxy,Urban Surf shop, Smith Sunglasses, Sticky Bumps Surf Wax, Seapa Hacky,  Marine Bar and Backpackers , Nrg, Kuta Lines, Lion Red and Seventh Wave Wetsuits.  The divisions were Open, Senior (over 30), Master (over 35) and Women.

After the relocation up the coast the host club Point Surf Team Boardriders had the contest heats hitting the water by 8.45am. A shifty side shore south swell of 2 -3 feet was making it hard for the competitors. Many competitors took their opportunities to put the boards through their paces on the punchy waves.

Early stand outs in the early rounds where 3 time runner up in the open event Manu Schafer who was on a mission to win the one of surfing titles in the South island that has eluded him. Blair O’Keefe who was runner up at a major contest the weekend before was looking sharp and polished on the single fin boards.

While Tony Schafer was dealing to the surfing walls with his big backhand snaps in the pocket with some bizarre retro maneourves thrown in as well.  Last year runner up in the Women’s Kate Blair was another who was looking very fast and smooth on the boards.

The Judges in this event had there hands full looking for a mixture of traditional and modern moves.  Stylish 70s grab rail cutbacks and awesome trimming. As well as big vertical rentries and tight snaps in the pocket where the man of the day from the competitors.

Once we got down to the finals time it was the Masters who hit the water first. Eternal Surfing grommet Johnny Fenton over from the West Coast of the South Island showed his class with a display of fluid surfing that left the other competitors playing catch up. Troy Scott fought back in the later stages of the Master final but just didn’t have that last killer good wave to knock Johnny off the top spot.

Next was the senior final with last year’s winner Sam Bradley trying to make it two in a row. But local underground ripper Aaron Smith had other thoughts and surfed superbly to take the title ahead of Sam for 2006. Local brothers Aaron and Ken Beaumont made up the minor final placings.

Now it was the time for the women’s final with Kate Blair last year’s runner up taking total control and surfing easily away with 1st place from Sophia Moore. Next were   Leilani Morgan and Eve Welch who was making her first final.

The open men’s final lived up to its billing with all the surfers pushing each other to there best at Waikuku beach.   Manu Schafer and Blair O’Keefe went head to head trading wave for wave, pulling some big moves. Not to be out done by this Manu’s older brother Tony Schafer was powerful as ever with his forehand attack and retro moves. 

Making his first open Single Fin final Aaron Lock didn’t hold back surfing well.  With cash up for grabs these finalists were keen to get their hands on as much as they could in getting a top placing. Once the horn had blown for the end of the final it was Manu Schafer who had his name know etched into the 2006 Open Single Fin trophy.

After three years of runner up, it was now his. After a hard day of wild weather and waves the contest crew retired to the Marine Bar and Backpackers in Sumner for the presentations. Another epic day for the Single Fin Surf contest that brings back the competitors and spectators year after year.
     
2006 New Zealand Central Surf Single Fin Placings

Open            
1st    Manu Schafer
2nd   Blair Okeeefe
3rd Tony Schafer     
4th Aaron Lock     

Seniors
1st Aaron Smith 
2nd Sam Bradley
3rd Aaron Beaumont
 4th Ken Beaumont

Women         
1st Kate Blair
2nd Sophia Moore
3rd Leilani Morgan
4th Eve Welch

Masters
1st Johnny fenton
2nd Troy Scott
3rd Paul Robb
4th Michael Richards

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Shannon Pantages

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