2009 ISA World Kneeboard Surfing Titles

International Surfing Assn
Arawhata, Taranaki New Zealand
11 - 18 April 2009

Ex World Champion Lights Up Event

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 13 April, 2009 : - - Australian surfer Simon Farrer set the 2009 ISA World Kneeboard Surfing Titles alight today with his explosive surfing as he amassed a massive 18.40 point heat total to move through to the second round of the event.

The top seeds of the event relished the increase in swell and the move to the surf break at Arawhata Road north of Opunake today (Monday 13th April).  The surf increased to 1.5m – 2.0m which allowed the best kneeboard surfers in the world the chance to express themselves to the best of their ability.  The 2009 ISA World Kneeboard Surfing Titles are being held at Opunake from the 11th – 18th April.

Farrer is one of a number of highly touted Australian surfers at the eight-day event.  Australia has always been regarded as the top kneeboarding nation and the performances of their surfers today showed exactly why they are held in such high regard.

Surfing early in the first round, Farrer took off on his first wave of the 20 minute heat and completed two huge turns on his wave to posted a near perfect 9.73 point ride.  He then proceeded to surf a second ride scoring 8.67 for an equally impressive wave.

“Conditions are good” commented Farrer.  “All I am asking for is swell, I don’t care what direction the wind is from, I just want good sized swell and that is what we have got today” added Farrer on the performance of the day.

The two time world champion (1988 and 1990) surfer Farrer (40) actually retired from all forms of competition in 1996.  However two years ago he returned to the competitive arena competing at the Australian Titles.  He went on to win the event.  Hearing that the 2009 World Titles were to be held in New Zealand he decided that he should return to the international arena given the close proximity of New Zealand.  “When I heard this event was coming to New Zealand I thought why not come and give the young guys a run for their money”.

Farrer progressed through to the second round alongside Jerome Blanco (FRA) together they eliminated Tracey Skelton (NZL) and young Tom Novakov (AUS). United Kingdom surfer Karl Ward was another early standout that highly impressed the judges scoring 17.50 to win his heat.  Ward surfed his heat with power completing several big turns to accumulate his top two scoring rides of 9.17 and 8.33.

“It is always a bit nerve wracking in your first heat of an event but I was happy to get that first wave and get a high score, very chuffed in fact” commented Ward in reference to his 9.17 point ride. “We surfed the tag team yesterday and it was hard to get going on the waves but the swell has picked up a lot and I think is every one is happy about that”.

Ward who has visited New Zealand on previous occasions was stoked to hear the event was being held down in the Southern Hemisphere.  “I loved the first trip I made to New Zealand so I was stoked to be able to come back down here, New Zealand is a lovely country”.

The top seeded New Zealand surfers are predominantly seeded through to the heats that will be contested on Tuesday morning with the likes of Kelvin Weir (Tara, NZL), National Champion Kenton Osmond (Auck, NZL) and ex World Junior Champion (2002) Hamish Christophers (Tara, NZL) all set to take to the water.

The only Kiwi surfer to progress through to the Second Round is Phillip Pickering who placed second in his heat to British surfer James Anderson. Other surfers to win their match ups today included Matt Gallagher (Aust), Armando Colucci (Venz) and Phillip Arthur (Aust). 

Day three will see the continuation of the open men’s divisions.  Conditions are expected to improve further with more favourable winds and a bigger swell.  This may mean a third change in venues in as many days.  A decision on the venue for each day’s surfing and order of events will be made early each morning.

The 2009 ISA World Kneeboard Surfing Titles are being held at Opunake from the 11th – 18th of April.  The biennial event was last held in New Zealand in 1999.  The most recent World Titles were held at Santa Cruz, California, USA.  Twelve countries are represented at this year’s event.

Surfing New Zealand are proudly partnered by Corona, Hyundai, SPARC & Smokefree.

- Advertisement -


Pre-release 30% online discount expires mid-April

Previous reports:
# 1 : Coming soon
# 2 : Coming soon
# 3 : Coming soon
# 4 : Coming soon  

www.kneelo.org
www.surfingnz.co.nz
www.kneeboardsurfingworldtitles.com  

More Australasian Surfing News available here
Check the latest Australasian Surf Reports and Forecasts

New! B2B News ASBE-Surf   |  Receive News-Alerts

Ben Kennings

Kneelo Contests - Surfersvillage