Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour Event #6

Surfing New Zealand
Sunset Beach, Port Waikato New Zealand
27 - 28 March 2009

Live Coverage  |  Results/Photos/Videos etc

Early Performances Signal Titanic Battle On Final Day

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 27 March, 2009 : - - Early performances from New Zealand’s top longboarders have offered up no distinct favourites to take out the final event of the Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour.  All the event’s top seeds posted huge scores on the first day of the Port Waikato finale held today.

The sixth and final event of the Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour got to experience perfect 1.0m waves and light winds at Sunset Beach, Port Waikato today.  The conditions were some of the best experienced on the tour this year and the surfers obliged with some first-rate surfing.

Title contenders Mike Burling (Gis), Daniel Procter (Gis) and Thomas Kibblewhite (Auck) were among the sixteen surfers who made it through to the quarterfinals set to take place early on Saturday morning.  Burling continued from where he left off at the Whangamata event posting the highest heat score of the day – 16.67 out of a possible 20.  Procter and Kibblewhite both posted scores in excess of 14 points also showing good form.

“I don’t read anything into today’s results, there is no point” commented a philosophical Burling.  “Every heat is different and all the other guys were surfing well today too, besides, tomorrow is a whole new day”.

Burling won the last event of the Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour held at Whangamata two weeks ago and now sits in a good position to take out the tour.  Burling needs to beat Procter and Kibblewhite to give himself a title chance.  Burling current sits at third on the ratings.

While the top three surfers all posted excellent scores it was the second tier of surfers that were equally impressive on the first day.  The likes of Owen Barnes (Mnt), Dylan Barnfield (Ohope) and Matt Cockayne were all devastating with their performances.

Barnfield – the winner of the first event of the tour scored 15.83 to win his heat with yet another polished display of all round longboarding combining critical nose rides with high performance manoeuvres.

The quarterfinals of the Open Men’s Division will see some big match ups laden with talent.  Burling will take on Kelly Ryan (Gis), Ant McColl (Mnt) and Wyn Hoogerbrugger (Kaukapakapa).  Procter will face Rick Williamson (Ohope), Jamie Andrews (Tara) and Leroy Rust (Dun).  Thomas Kibblewhite faces Matt Cockayne (Auck), Sam Guthrie (Ohope) and Kieran Plim (Aust).

Number one seed in the Women’s Division, Jo Moore (Tara) narrowly escaped defeat in the first round after getting a last second ride to scrape into second place and move through to the semifinals behind Mischa Davis (Piha).  Together the two surfers eliminated the winner of the most recent event Monique Waitzer (Auck).

Number four seed Daisy Thomas (Chch) made her intentions felt by winning her first round heat with some big turns to move through to the last six surfers.  Thomas needs a big win in the division to defend her title she won in 2009. Late in the day the senior men’s divisions hit the water.  Lynden Kennings (WGM), Tatana Heke (Mnt) and David Storck all won their Over 40 Men’s heats.

Legendary Hawaiian surfer Buzzy Kerbox was a late entry into the Over 50 Men’s Division and won his heat with style as did Keith Redman (Rag), Paul Browne (Auck) and Warwick Grey (Waihi Beach). The event will take place from 8am – 4pm on Saturday with live streaming via surf.co.nz/hyundai/index.asp. A full media release and results will be distributed at the conclusion of the finals on Saturday.

Previous reports:
# 1 : Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour Event #6 sights on Sunset
# 2 : Coming soon
# 3 : Coming soon
# 4 : Coming soon  

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