New Billabong Pro Event Set For Dunedin in November

Billabong New Zealand has branched into the South Island with their long line of surfing events they run throughout New Zealand. The newest event will be the Billabong Pro that will be staged at St Clair Beach, Dunedin from the 26th – 27th of November. The event will be rated 5 Star on the Lion Red Pro Surfing Tour guaranteeing a huge turn out of New Zealand’s top surfers as they move toward the business end of the competitive season.

Billabong Marketing Manager Scott Casey was excitedly looking forward to the venture south. “We are enthusiastic about staging the Billabong Pro in Dunedin. It is an opportunity for the South Island surfers to be part of the Lion Red Pro Surfing Tour. It is the first time we have staged an event in the South Island and we are looking forward to making the Billabong Pro a long term date on the surfing calendar”.

With over $10,000 prize money up for grabs a huge contingent of North Island surfers will make the journey south to contest the event. The likes of Daniel Kereopa (Rag), Justin Souter (Mnt) and Blair Stewart (Gis) were three of the top four surfers on last years end of year ratings and they will be eager to sink their teeth into the event. Kereopa fended off Maz Quinn for the Lion Red Pro Surfing Tour win last year. It may be that Quinn misses this event due to his international commitments with key WQS events being staged in Hawaii at the same time as the Billabong Pro.

St Clair Beach provides a perfect setting for surfing events with the action being close to spectators who have plenty of great vantage points available. The surf, while sometimes tricky, often holds excellent shape and local surfers from Dunedin as well as South Island surfers have notched up numerous wins against their North Island counterparts.

South Island surfers that will be on the charge toward the top 16 are 2005 South Island Circuit winner Jai Earnshaw (W.C). Earnshaw won the most recent event held at Saint Clair – The South Island Champs. Never underestimate Manu Schafer of Christchurch who turns it up a couple of notches when competing at Saint Clair – the venue of his National title win in 1999. Also to be watched closely are Llewellyn Thomas (Chch), Tony Schafer (Chch) and Nat Parsons (Kaik) who round out the top five on the South Island Circuit.

Surfing New Zealand Executive Officer Greg Townsend was thankful for the support Billabong had shown to the Lion Red Pro Surfing Tour and specifically supporting an event in the South Island. South Island Surfing Association Executive Officer Steve Thomas commented along the same lines “we welcome Billabong sponsoring a major event in the South Island. The South Island surfers will get the chance to compete on the Lion Red Pro Surfing Tour but within their own waters. This is very encouraging for the growth of South Island surfers competing nationally and also for the development of South Island surfing”

Source: Surfing New Zealand

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