Oxbow Australian Longboard Titles

Country Energy Australian Surf Festival
Port Macquarie NSW Australia
16 - 30 August 2008

Live Coverage  |  Results/Photos/Videos etc

Standard continues to rise at Oxbow Australian Longboard Titles

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 20 August, 2008 : - - Port Macquarie, NSW -- In near-perfect conditions day four of the Oxbow Australian Longboard Titles saw excellent surfing from the best in the business. With the Open Men and Women divisions hitting the water at North Haven Beach, the level of surfing on show was of the highest calibre.
 
Dane Pioli (Thirroul, NSW) shone the brightest in the Men’s division in excellent 1m conditions. “I got a couple of good ones,” he said after his round two heat...I was lucky enough to get one good wave in particular which took the pressure off and allowed me to relax.”

Pioli, who has had an outstanding year competitively thus far; having won a number of event’s across the nation, is focussed on taking out the Oxbow Australian Longboard Titles. “This event is the most prestigious within Australia,” Pioli said.  Scoring the highest single-wave score of the day, a 9.00 (out of a possible 10), Pioli certainly made his intentions clear. “My aim is definitely to win,” he said.

Rachel Pinsak : photo Michael Tyrpenou/Surfing NSW

“I haven’t done too well in the past at this event and the level of surfing is through the roof, so hopefully I can get a good result.

As 180 surfers from around Australia converged on Port Macquarie, the Oxbow Australian Longboard Titles saw the second round underway at North Haven. Leading the charge in the Women’s division was 15-year-old Rachel Pinsak (Terrigal, NSW), who won her early morning heat in style. “It was a lot of fun out there,” Pinsak said after racking up a total heat score of 11.70 (out of a possible 20), including a seven-point ride.

“All the girls are surfing so good and the standard is so high, hopefully I can continue to step it up throughout the competition,” Pinsak added. “Surfing against these girls definitely pushes you to surf the best you possibly can.” Not only an outstanding longboarding talent, Pinsak is also very well versed on a shortboard, having recently finished fourth at the state junior titles earlier this month.

Chelsea Williams : photo Michael Tyrpenou/Surfing NSW

“I love them both equally,” she said, when asked to choose between both disciplines. “I prefer to surf competitively on a longboard if I had to choose, but they’re both so fun.”  Chelsea Williams (Tweed Heads, NSW) was another standout, as Arlene Nagtzaam (Yallingup, WA), Kelly Winter (Sunshine Coast, QLD) and Erica Omcke (Noarlunga Sth, SA) advanced through to the next round of competition.

Be sure to log onto australiansurffestival.com for all information regarding the Country Energy Australian Surf Festival. The website will feature a LIVE Event Broadcast with commentary and heat scores during the event as well as festival news, results, photo and video galleries. 
 
Following the Oxbow Australian Longboard Titles will be the Na Papa Surfmasters Titles, running from Sunday August 24 until Saturday August 30 2008.

Riddle : photo Michael Tyrpenou/Surfing NSW

The Country Energy Australian Surf Festival is proudly supported by Country Energy, Events NSW, Port Macquarie Hastings Council, Greater Port Macquarie Tourism, Oxbow, Na Papa Surfboards, Town Green Inn, Sundowner Breakwall Tourist Park, NBN, 2MC FM, Star FM, Sydney Weekender, Australia’s Surfing Life Magazine, Australian Longboarding Magazine, Coastalwatch, Ocean and Earth, Saltwater Wine Surf Centres, The Little Brewing Company, the Mercure Centro Hotel, Rydges Hotel Port Macquarie, Surfing Australia and Surfing NSW.

Check the Live Action

Previous reports:
# 1 : Australian Surf Festival gets backing from Country Energy
# 2 : Oxbow Australian Longboard Titles join Country Energy..
# 3 : Oxbow lights up Australia with Oxbow Longboard Titles 

# 4 : Picture perfect surf Day 1 of Oxbow Australian Longboard  
# 5 : Big scores herald Day #2 of Oxbow Oz Longboard Titles 
# 6 : Great surfing going down at Oxbow Oz Longboard Titles

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Country Energy Australian Surf Festival
Michael Tyrpenou
michaelt@surfingnsw.com.au

The Country Energy Australian Surf Festival Event Contact
Peter Hunt
peterh@surfingnsw.com.au

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