Rip Curl MP Classic
Presented by Tracks Magazine

Gold Coast Queensland Australia
2 - 3 February 2008

Clint Kimmins: The New ‘King Of Kirra’

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 3 February, 2008 : - - The Gold Coast’s Clint Kimmins (Palm Beach) is the new ‘King of Kirra’ after trumping the state’s top surfers to win the Rip Curl MP Classic in bumpy 1-metre point break waves at Kirra Point on the Gold Coast today.

A core group of the Queensland surfing scene gathered for the final day of competition to pay homage to Kirra legend Michael ‘MP’ Peterson.  It also marked the first time that the $5000 tournament had been run at the fabled point break since its inception in 2002.

In his day, MP was the master of the section of coast now known as the Superbank. Back then Snapper Rocks, Rainbow Bay and Kirra were all separate waves, the Kirra section being a lot longer than it is now. The "Cooly kids" including his arch nemesis Wayne ‘Rabbit’ Bartholomew were, much as they are now, at the forefront of modernising surfing.

Peterson was on hand today as Kimmins surfed away with his Kirra crown, outclassing Blake Wilson (Maroochydore), Josh Dowthwaite (Main Beach) and Corey Ziems (Currumbin) en route to winning the 25-minute final.

Clint Kimmins : photo Jake White

In doing so, Kimmins won $2000 and a replica MP surfboard. “I’m over the moon,” said Kimmins. “It’s been a long time coming. I’ve been training really hard and I’m just rapt that it’s all paid off. To win a prestigious event named after MP (Michael Peterson) is just icing on the cake.”

The stocky natural foot led from start to finish, conquering wild seas to net a perfect 10 point ride in the opening seconds of the high scoring final. Brimming with confidence, he backed it up with a 7.00 to accrue a final combination of a 17.00 to Wilson’s 16.60. “To win at Kirra means a lot to me,” he said. “I’ve been surfing this stretch of coast all my life, so to win here makes it that much sweeter.” Dowthwaite (12.60) and Ziems (9.35) finished third and fourth respectively. 

World no.1 Mick Fanning made a special guest appearance at the tournament. “MP has been a huge inspiration to surfing for many years,” said Fanning. “I would of loved to see him surf in his heyday. He’ll always be the ‘man’ at Kirra.” Fanning, who is in training for the start of his world title defence at Snapper Rocks, was pleased to see the event being run at Kirra. “It’s the first time the event has been run at Kirra,” he said.

“It’s a rarity to surf Kirra in competition, so all the boys must be over the moon that they had the opportunity to surf it.” The event again hosted the best junior surfers in the country as part of the Surfing Australia High Performance Centre selection process to choose the next Australian junior team. 14 young hopefuls entered into the Rip Curl MP Classic as part of the analysis process to pick the team. Currumbin’s Mitch Crews placed the highest, finishing in equal 7th.

Previous reports:
# 1 : Rip Curl M.P. Classic set to crown the new king of Cooly
# 2 : Rabbit Bartholomew pays tribute at Rip Curl MP Classic

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www.surfingqueensland.com

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Jake White

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