Bryce Young : photo Moonwalker

Hyundai Malfunction Surf Festival

ASP World Longboard Qualifying Series
New Tweed Coast Qld Australia
21 - 29 March 2009

Live Coverage  |  Results/Photos/Videos etc

Day One of the Hyundai Malfunction kicks off in the good stuff

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 25 March, 2009 : - - Day One of the Hyundai Malfunction surfing competition kicked off in excellent 1 to 1.5 metre waves at Kingscliff, Tweed Coast, NSW. Australia’s premier longboard competition is set for excellent surf and sunny weather over the next 5 days with an increasing Easterly swell courtesy of TC Jasper and a Big High pressure system pushing in southlie winds and pumping waves at Kingscliff, NSW.

The swell will continue to build into the weekend and Contest Organizer Sean McKeown couldn’t have been happier, “Kingscliff is really turning on the waves and the competitors are lapping it up. The standard is first class and we’re in for 5 days of full on surfing!” said Sean with a beaming smile.

The first day of competition showcased the Elite of Australian longboarding performing on short boards for Day one of the Hyundai Malfunction with the Retro boards (pre 1981) and then turning the clock back for the Old Mal (pre 1968).

The opening day of competition commences at 8am (NSW) in front of the Kingscliff Surf Club (Cudgen Headlands SLSC) and features some of the Worlds best Longboarders showing off their short board skills on the early Eighties models that were short, thick and chunky and made prior to the three fin thruster modern surfboard of today.

Former Australian Longboard champion and World rated in the top 5 Harley Ingleby (Emerald Beach, NSW) was on fire scoring an 8.5 to easily win his semi-final from 16 year old Kingscliff local Mitchell James while in the other semi Newcastle’s Jye Byrnes scored an excellent ride on his last wave to outpoint North Havens Ian Bell. First and second from the semi’s qualified for Sundays final.

In the Old Mal category defending champion Caloundra’s Justin Healey was the top scorer of the day posting a 9 out of 10 to easily win the first semi from Byron Bays Jack Milgate and in the second semi the unofficial King of Longboards from Cabarita Ray Gleave who is now 50 years of age easily won from Norah Heads Beau Nixon.

“Ray will be looking to extract some revenge after I beat him last year,” said Healey, 28 years of age and representing the new young guard ripping on Old Mals. “The waves are fast and hollow and good to surf, it’s second to Superbank but not as crowded as Snapper, “said Healey referring to Snapper Rocks/Rainbow Bay which was previously the venue for the Malfunction and relocated to Kingscliff two years ago. It has proved to be a popular move blending into the village ambience and laid back lifestyle of Kingscliff plus adding the major ingredient of pumping uncrowded waves.

The Retro and Old mal finals were decided today and are as follows;

Retro finalist –  Jye Byrnes, Ian Bell, Harley Ingleby and Mitchell James

Old Mal finalist - Justin Healey, Ray Gleave, Jack Milgate and Beau Nixon. Both finals will be surfed with all other Hyundai Malfunction finals including the Professional divisions which will start at 8am on Sunday 29th. 

Tomorrow’s (Thursday 26th) competition will see round 1 and round 2 of the Surf Tech World Professional men’s and women’s longboarders at Kingscliff with International and National champions commencing at 8am (NSW) and expecting a surge in the swell.

Currumbin Surfing Pioneer and historian photographer Eddie Sawden has displayed classic Gold Coast and Tweed Coast surfing photos from the 50’s and 60’s era which are free to the public in the Kingscliff Surf Club (known as the Cudgen Headland SLSC)

Well known Gold Coast Surfing Rock and Roll musician Mason Rack will be playing in the Kingscliff Park next to the Surf Club from 1pm on Sunday prior to the Presentation starting at 3pm. It will be one of his last appearances before heading off to live in Canada.

Previous reports:
# 1 : New Tweed Coast amped for Hyundai Malfunction Fest
# 2 : Registration opens for Australia's Hyundai Malfunction..
# 3 : 2009 Hyundai Malfunction grows into nine-day festival

# 4 : SUP event slated for 09 Hyndai Malfunction Surf Festival  
# 5 : Retro boards get their due in Hyundai Malfunction event
# 5 : Great conditions kick off of the 2009 Hyundai Malfunction

www.malfunction.com.au

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Sean McKeown

Longboard - Surfersvillage