RnR South Island International Longboard Pro-Am

Hynday Pro Longboard Tour Event # 5
Kaikoura, New Zealand
14 - 16 March 2008

Burling closes down opposition at RnR South Island International Longboard Pro-Am

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 16 March, 2008 : - - The third and final day of the R&R South Island Longboard Pro Am (event five of the Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour) got underway in very different conditions to the previous days.  Overcast skies and a dramatic drop in swell saw those surfers prepared to risk body and board advance.  Michael Burling (Gis) did just that, throwing caution to the wind Burling launched into several of the 1.0m set waves with a vertical attack.

Burling’s rampage left the remaining finalists needing combination scores to stay in the hunt midway though the final. Australian, Jackson Close closed the gap slightly towards the end of the final with a series of noserides and cutbacks, but lacked a good second scoring wave and had to settle for second place.

2007 Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour winner Daniel Kereopa (Rag) who once again surfed with a heavily strapped foot also lacked a good second wave although made a solid comeback towards the end of the final.  Young Kirk Beyer waited patiently out the back for the elusive set waves but these waves always seemed to have Michael Burling attached to them.  Beyer finished fourth.

The Women’s final played out very similar to the Open Men’s, with Sophia Moore (Muriwai) never threatened during the 20 minute final.  Moore’s commitment and skill saw several waves ridden until the dry rocks were her only obstacles.  Josephine Moore (Tara), Claire Norman (Aus) and Anau Burling (Auck) continued to battle with each other and the conditions, finishing within a point of each other.

People say, as you get older you take less risks, not so for the Over 40 Final.  Mike Thomson (Rag), Glen Shuker (ChCh), Mike Pimm (Aust) and Michael Willman (ChCh) all decided to risk body and board. Shuker and Willman pushed each other, twice playing chicken on the same wave.

Shuker, who had been out of the water for six weeks due to injury, commented that he would “make the waves cry“ and came close to doing that himself as he continued looking for that last manoeuvre on the inside rocks or “Cockies Corner” as it is now known after Grant Cochrane broke his collarbone there the previous day. Shuker took the final.

The junior final was a close fought battle between four very talented surfers. Leroy Rust (Dun) became the victor this time. Mike Pimm (Aus) was the only finalist in the Over 50’s to have a combination score in double figures.  Pimm like the previous finalists surfed vertically and looked for the last turn on the inside.

New Brighton surfers dominated the Over 55’s Final.  Ross Tyson’s first two waves, secured first place, from club mate Ron Carter. Daryn McBride (Mnt) managed to salvage his weekend by winning the Old Mal division with a fine display of traditional longboarding that included hanging five and ten.

McBride also surfed the following final, the speciality noseriding division.  The noseriding division allows each surfer the ability to catch as many waves as they can during their heat, but only allowing each surfer to claim one scoring wave.  Jackson Close, Matt Cockayne (Auck) , Dylan Barnfield (Ohope) and McBride all left the claimed wave until the last two minutes of their twenty-minute heat. 

Barnfield surfed a nice wave, hanging five and ten, early in the heat but didn’t claim the wave.  Judges were calling the wave a 7.5 point ride out of a possible 10 that could have sealed the final for Barnfield.  But it was Jackson Close, who was lying bleeding on the rocks that claimed the winning wave.

OPEN MEN’S FINAL
Michael Burling (Gis) 1, Jackson Close (Aust) 2, Daniel Kereopa (Rag) 3, Kirk Beyer (Wgtn)   4,

OPEN MEN’S SEMI-FINALS
Heat 1 Daniel Kereopa (Rag) 1, Kirk Beyer (Wgtn) 2, Mathew Cockayne (Mngwhai) 3, Dylan Barnfield (Ohope) 4,
Heat 2  Michael Burling (Gis) 1, Jackson Close (Aust) 2, Shayne Baxter (Dun) 3,  Daniel Proctor (Gis) 4,

OVER 40 FINAL
Glen Shuker (ChCh) 1, Mike Thomson (Rag) 2,  Mike Pimm (Aust)  3, Michael Willman (ChCh) 4,

WOMEN’S FINAL
Sophia Moore (Muriwai) 1,  Anau Burling (Auck) 2, Claire Norman 3,  Josephine Moore (Tara) 4,  

JUNIOR Under 18 FINAL 
Le Roy Rust ((Dun) 1  Eli Barnfield (Ohope) 2, Sam Hawke (ChCh) 3, Hone Douglas (Whakatane)  4,

OVER 50's FINAL 
Mike Pimm 1, David Storck (Auck) 2, Viv Treacy (Ocean Beach) 3, Mike Thomson (Rag) 4, 

Over 55’s FINAL
Ross Tyson 1, Ron Carter 2, Peter Stevens 3 Kevin Merdock 4, 

NOSERIDER FINAL
Jackson Close 1, Darren McBride 2 Matt Cockayne 3, , Dylan Barnfield 4,

OLD MAL FINAL
Daryn McBride 1, Paul Culpan 2, Troy Scott 3, Jason Lawn 4, 

The remaining event dates for the 2008 Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour are as follows:
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.  Hyundai have also set up a specific surfing website focussing on longboarding and the Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour - http://www.surf.co.nz/hyundai.

Previous reports:
# 1 : RnR South Island Int Longboard Pro-Am gets early start
# 2 : Kiwi’s challenging sole Aussie surfer at RnR Longboard

www.surfingnz.co.nz
www.surf.co.nz/hyundai

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