Oxbow Australian Longboard Titles

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

Live Coverage  |  Results/Photos/Videos etc

Action heats up at Oxbow Australian Longboard Titles

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 21 August, 2008 : - - Port Macquarie, NSW -- With competition heading toward the business end of the Oxbow Australian Longboard Titles and promise of swell on the horizon, things are heating up in Port Macquarie.

As day five of the Oxbow Australian Longboard Titles rolled on, the quarter-finals of the Open Men division had the crowd in a frenzy, as the best longboarders in the country battled it out for prized places in the next round. Current ASP World Longboard Tour (WLT) ratings leader, reigning Australian champion and event standout to date, Harley Ingelby (Emerald Beach, NSW), was again in great form.

“I felt good out there this morning,” Ingelby said. With the weight of expectation firmly placed upon his shoulders, Ingelby is not concerned with the anticipation and pressure of others. “Everyone expects me to do well, but I’m just trying to run my own race and do as well as I can,” he said after cementing a birth in the semi-finals.
 
“I feel confident and have put myself in a position to do well... In saying that there are still so many good surfers left in the event, so it’s going to be tough,” Ingelby added. As the swell looks set to increase and the conditions to improve, Ingelby is relishing the opportunity to get into the big stuff. “I’m looking forward to the increase in swell,” he said.

Harley Ingleby : photo Michael Tyrpenou/Surfing NSW

 
“It’s quite difficult out there at the moment and it’s just up to luck whether you get the right wave,” Ingelby noted. “Hopefully as the conditions increase it will eliminate all luck involved.” As the best 180 surfers from around Australia converged on Port Macquarie, the Oxbow Australian Longboard Titles saw conditions deteriorate at North Haven.
 
However, it was Mitch Surman (Maroochydore, QLD) who made the most of the early morning action, racking up the highest single wave score of the day with a nine-point ride. “I’m really happy with that result,” Surman admitted. “That wave was perfect for me, I’m so happy with it and I’m stoked to have gotten through.”
 
Rubbing shoulders with the country and world’s best, Surman is not daunted by what lies ahead. “It means everything to be competing at the Australian titles against the like of Harley Ingelby, Josh Constable and Jackson Close,” he said. “I’m only a grommet, so I’ve got nothing to lose.”
 
With semi-finals in all divisions set to continue tomorrow, the action is sure to be electrifying. Be sure to log onto www.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.

Mitch Surman : photo Michael Tyrpenou/Surfing NSW

Following the Oxbow Australian Longboard Titles will be the Na Papa Surfmasters Titles, running from Sunday August 24 until Saturday August 30 2008.

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 
# 7 : Oxbow Australian Longboard Titles fire in excellent surf

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www.surfingnsw.com.au
www.surfingaustralia.com 
www.australiansurffestival.com

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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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