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Hyundai NZ Longboard Tour |
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The much anticipated Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour has been confirmed for
summer 2009 with six events set to make for another exciting tour
throughout the country.
Info supplied by Ben Kennings, surfingnz.
The competitions venture into their fourth year of existence
and Hyundai, as the naming rights sponsor, continue to develop what is
becoming a world renowned tour.
2009 will see events being held at Mount Maunganui, Piha, Sandy Bay, Christchurch, Whangamata and Port Waikato.
Surfing New Zealand CEO Greg Townsend says early interest expressed by
surfers both in New Zealand and overseas is high, “We are getting
enquiries about the tour daily” commented Townsend.
“These enquiries are not only coming from around New Zealand but also
from the likes of Australia and Tahiti which shows that the Hyundai Pro
Longboard Tour is gaining great recognition in longboard circles
globally” added Townsend.
Darren Kirkland, Marketing Manager Hyundai Motors New Zealand says,
“This being our fourth year of the sponsorship we’re looking to make
the competition better than ever and to reflect that we have upgraded
two events to five star events.”
The final two events being upgraded to five star events means more
prize money and points on offer to surfers vying for precious national
rankings.
Five divisions will be contested on the tour – Open Men, Women, Junior
Men (under 18), Over 40 and Over 50. An addition in 2009 will be the
inclusion of paddle races at each event. The paddle race has been a
part of surfing events for many years and Hyundai will be reintroducing
this fun concept to the tour. Be it stand-up paddleboards or the
traditional prone style, the paddle races will give everyone the chance
to claim some bragging rights in an out-and-out race to the finish line.
2008 Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour winner Daryn McBride (Mnt) is quietly excited about the upcoming events.
“The tour is looking great for the northern boys with the majority of
the events being held in the upper North Island; I especially like the
introduction of the Whangamata event, a great beach, that's nice and
close to home” commented McBride.
McBride recently returned from the ISA World Surfing Games held in
Portugal where he competed for New Zealand as the sole longboarder in
the team. McBride placed ninth and his longboard skills demonstrated at
the event had him rated up there with the best in the world.
McBride in-part attributes his good result to the strong Hyundai Pro
Longboard Tour and he is adamant that the tour will produce future
champions.
“I feel having a strong Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour with solid judging
direction/criteria in place is really pushing the level of longboard
surfing in New Zealand” commented McBride.
He went on to say, “Bonga Perkins (Haw) came out to New Zealand to
contest two events on the tour. He got a fourth and a ninth on the
tour, then last week he was crowned 2008 Oxbow World Longboard Tour
Champion. That proves our surfers are now capable of mixing it up on
the world stage, they just have to believe in themselves.”
Hyundai will continue to bring the relaxed family orientated surf event
to the beach. The 2009 events will be complemented with fun activities
such as beach volleyball and the paddle races. There will also be
barbeques at the beach to feed competitors and spectators alike.
The longboard raffles will be back again in 2009 with proceeds from the
raffles being donated to the local Boardriders clubs. Initiatives such
as this ensure that while having a competitive side to them, they also
offer a lot to the host surf communities.
ENDS
Notes:
The complete calendar of events for the 2009 Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour follows:
Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour Event 1, Mount Maunganui – 3rd – 4th January
Hyundai National Surfing Championships Presented by Quiksilver, Piha Beach – 10th – 17th January
Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour Event 3, Sandy Bay – 7th – 8th February
Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour Event 4, Christchurch – 21st – 22nd February
Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour Event 5, Whangamata – 14th – 15th March
Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour Event 6, Port Waikato – 28th – 29th March
Entry into the events can be completed at www.surfingnz.co.nz under
events. Complete the entry process online or download entry forms and
send them in. The 2009 tour is expected to receive high entry levels so
entrants will need to be in well before the cut off dates to assure
themselves a slice of the action.
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