Mcbride Claims Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour

Daryn Mcbride (Mnt) today (Sunday 13th April) claimed the Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour for 2008 when he placed seventh at the final event staged at Port Waikato. The Australian surfers proved too strong for the Kiwis today claiming first and second in the open men’s as well as first place in the women’s. The surf conditions were great for the final day with perfect sand banks producing small but clean waves.

Although not the ultimate way to end the tour Mcbride’s demise in the semifinals, was followed closely by the demise of his only rival Michael Burling (Gis) who placed fifth in the event.

“Yeah mate, I had a pretty rough semifinal, it was fully stacked, but it was all about the tour win today, that’s what mattered for me anyway” commented Mcbride when he realised that the tour was his. “I think I used up all my luck in the quarters and then in the semfinal I just didn’t find the right waves, they were short with no walls. It was ‘do or die’ for two of us out there and I was the one that died. But I was lucky that Burling got knocked as well and handed it to me which is fantastic” recalled Mcbride.

McBride drove away in a brand new Hyundai Santa Fe for his table topping efforts this year.

Mcbride was eliminated by event winner Jackson Close (Aust) in the semifinals. Close was one of three top international surfers in the open men’s division and put it all together in the final today to win the event. Close amassed 17.85 points out of a possible 20 in the final which included a near perfect 9.5 point ride.

It was the third event Close has contested in New Zealand this year. The powerful natural footer shone in the final with some big manoeuvres and slick footwork that had him riding the nose tight in the pocket.

Throughout the final Close was in a two way battle for the lead with his touring companion Harley Ingleby also of Australia. Ingleby was regarded by many as the smoothest surfer in the event and his total heat score of 17.25 was testament to that.

The Kiwi finalists couldn’t match their Australian counterparts in the final perhaps peaking in the semis. Dylan Barnfield (Ohope) fell on several good waves before finally locking in a total heat score of 14.60 while Daniel Procter (Gis) had to settle for fourth as the only goofy footer in the final posting a respectable 12.75 points.

Earlier in the day a rampant Mcbride and Close eliminated the other international surfer - Hawaiian Bonga Perkins in the quarterfinals. Other surfers to make it to the semfinals included Sam Johnson (Gis) and Kirk Beyer (Wgtn).

The results of the final meant that Kereopa (who was eliminated on day one) retained second place on the Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour ratings ahead of Burling in third and Dylan Barnfield in fourth.

Claire Norman (Aust) won the open women’s division to finish the tour on a high. Norman posted a total heat score of 14.6 to win the final ahead of Daisy Thomas (Chch) and make it two wins in a row after winning the Wellington event last weekend. Despite the strong finish Norman was not able to over take eventual tour winner Daisy Thomas. Both surfers had three wins a piece over the year but Daisy by way of winning the all important Hyundai National Championships gained the edge. Thomas looked strong in the final also posting a big 13.75 points. Auckland’s Shelley Jones placed third in the final with Kirstie Thomsen (Whangarei) in fourth.

Rick Williamson (Ohope) took his first under 18 boys win of the tour today surfing the lefthanders on his forehand. Williamson had dominated the lefts all weekend with long noserides and when all four finalists decided to surf the left it was clear that Williamson would have an advantage. Williamson posted 16.5 points out of a possible 20 in the high scoring final. Tour winner Sam Guthrie (Mnt) made a late comeback for the win scoring 14.75 in the final to pip young Hone Douglas (Ohope) for second. Douglas posted the highest single wave score in the final – 8.65 for a tidy hang ten but could only manage a second score of 4.5. Eli Barnfield (Ohope) placed fourth in a final that he would rather forget.

Mike Thomson (Rag) dominated the senior men’s divisions winning both the Over 40s and Over 50s. His win in the over 40s backed up his win last weekend at Wellington and extended his overall points tally to easily win the tour. David Storck (Piha) placed second in the over 40s for his best result of the year with Ruepert Newbold in third and Mal Brady in fourth. With his fourth placing Brady managed to jump to second on the ratings for a consistent season of results that saw him place in the finals of all five events he contested.

In the over 50s Viv Treacy (Sandy Bay) placed second behind Thomson on a countback after both surfers were tied for first. Treacy won four of the six events in 2008 and his tour victory was never in doubt going into the final event however it was Mike Thomson by way of the highest single wave score of 7.10 that won the final. Paul Browne (Auck) placed third in the final locking in some serious noseriding time on the small rights. Ruepert Newbold picked up a fourth – one placing behind his third in the over 40s.

Port Waikato Hyundai Pro Longboard 2008 Results

Open Men Quarterfinals
Heat 1
Dylan Barnfield (Ohope), 1, Kirk Beyer (Wgtn), 2, Dave Elley, (Rag), 3, Jay Reeve (Mnt), n/s
Heat 2
Daryn Mcbride (Mt), 1, Jackson Close (Aust), 2, Bonga Perkins (Hawaii), 3, Thomas Kibblewhite (Auck), 4
Heat 3
Harley Ingleby (Australia), 1, Sam Johnson (Gis), 2, Rob Norman (Aust), 3, Paul Culpan (Auck), 4
Heat 4
Daniel Proctor (Gis), 1, Michael Burling (Gis), 2, Matt Gillespie (Auck), 4, Ant McColl (Mnt), 3

Open Men Semifinals
Heat 1
Dylan Barnfield (Ohope), 1, Jackson Close (Aust), 2, Kirk Beyer (Wgtn), 3, Daryn Mcbride (Mt), 4
Heat 2
Daniel Proctor (Gis), 1, Harley Ingleby (Australia), 2, Michael Burling (Gis), 3, Sam Johnson (Gis), 4

Open Men’s Final
Jackson Close (Aust), 1, Harley Ingleby (Australia), 2, Dylan Barnfield (Ohope), 3, Daniel Proctor (Gis), 4

Women’s Semifinals
Heat 1
Kirstie Thomsen (Whangarei), 1, Shelly Jones, (Auck), 2, Rea Ansin (Auck), 3
Heat 2
Daisy Thomas (ChCh), 1, Claire Norman (Sydney), 2, Shereen Lobb (Port Wai), 3

Women’s Final
Claire Norman (Sydney), 1, Daisy Thomas (ChCh), 2, Shelly Jones, (Auck), 3, Kirstie Thomsen (Whangarei), 4

Over 50s Semifinal
Heat 1
Mike Thomson (Rag), 1, Viv Treacy (Ocean Beach), 2, David Storck (Auck), 3
Heat 2
Paul Browne (Orewa), 1, Ruepert Newbold (Whngrei), 2, Warrick Gray (Waihi Beach), 3

Over 50s Final
Mike Thomson (Rag), 1, Viv Treacy (Ocean Beach), 2, Paul Browne (Orewa), 3, Ruepert Newbold (Whngrei), 4

Over 40s Semifinal
Heat 1
Mal Brady (Mnt), 1, David Storck (Auck), 2, Bryan Western (North Shore), 3, Simon Bennett, 4
Heat 2
Rupert Newbold (Ocean Bch), 1, Mike Thomson (Rag), 2, Stephen Tyro (ChCh), 3, Richard Benson Cooper (Auck), 4

Over 40s Final
Mike Thomson (Rag), 1, David Storck (Auck), 2, Rupert Newbold (Ocean Bch), 3, Mal Brady (Mnt), 4

Under 18 Boys Final
Rick Williamson (Ohope), 1, Sam Guthrie (Mnt), 2, Hone Douglas (Whakatane), 3, Eli Barnfield (Ohope), 4

2008 Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour Ratings

Open Men’s Top 4
1, Daryn Mcbride (Mnt)
2, Daniel Kereopa (Rag)
3, Michael Burling (Gis)
4, Dylan Barnfield (Ohope)

Open Women’s Top 4
1, Daisy Thomas (ChCh)
2, Claire Norman (Sydney)
3, Shereen Lobb (Port Wai)
4, Kirstie Thomsen (Whangarei)

Under 18 Men’s Top 4
1, Sam Guthrie (Mnt)
2, Hone Douglas (Whakatane)
3, Rick Williamson (Ohope)
4, Sam Hawke (ChCh)

Over 40 Men’s Top 4
1, Mike Thomson (Rag)
2, Mal Brady (Mnt)
3, David Storck (Auck)
4, Stephen Tyro (ChCh)

Over 50 Men’s Top 4
1, Viv Treacy (Ocean Beach)
2, Mike Thomson (Rag)
3, David Storck (Auck)
4, Warwick Gray (Waihi Bch)

Hyundai have been involved with Surfing New Zealand since 2004 and also sponsor the most prestigious event in New Zealand – The Hyundai National Championships presented by Quiksilver. However the focus is on longboarding and this year the tour is being televised on Maori Television with half hour shows dedicated to each event. Heke Ngaru is shown at 8.00pm every Thursday night. Hyundai have also set up a specific surfing website focussing on longboarding and the Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour - http://www.surf.co.nz/hyundai.

Source: Surfing New Zealand

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