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JENSEN TAKES OUT EVENT WITH NEAR FLAWLESS PERFORMANCE
Monday, 2 August 2010 |
Day Three of event one of the 2010 Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour kicked off in clean 0.5m-1.0m waves at Sandy Bay today (Sunday 7th February). With beautiful weather and a large crowd of spectators, this event showed that the Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour is definitely at the cutting edge of surfing in New Zealand.
First up were the semi-finals of the Junior Men’s, Over 50 Men’s, Stand up Paddleboard and Open Women’s divisions. Clean peeling waves rolled through and the level of competition at the business end certainly delivered some great action.
SUP
Shane Baxter (Dunedin) smashed his opponents in semi-final heat one of the Stand Up Paddleboard Division. 2009 National SUP runner up Lynden Kennings (WGM) dominated the SUP division from the outset, with his smooth approach and solid turns scoring highly with the judges. Kennings surfed a solid final but it was Baxter who took out first place with a late charge and two solid scores in the bank. The renowned big wave surfer from Otago laid some huge sliding turns to score a total of 12.7 points, beating Kennings by 0.3 points. In third place was Auckland’s Arnie Armstrong and in fourth Robert Hawkins (Raglan).
Over 40 Men’s
Brendan Young (Hawkes Bay) took a gamble in the final of the Over 40 Men’s Division by paddling off to another peak for the heat, leaving the other competitors on the main peak. His gamble paid off and the veteran on the Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour scored some fantastic high scoring waves taking first place easily. 2009 Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour Over 40’s Champion Lynden Kennings (Whangamata) also surfed with style securing some great scores placing second behind Young (Hawkes Bay). Grant Cochrane (Christchurch) came in third and local favourite Rupert Newbold (Ocean Beach) fourth.
Over 50’s Final
It was two local surfers versus the visitors in the Over 50’s final. Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour veteran Mike Thompson (Raglan) picked off some great waves in the final but it was Grant Cochrane (Christchurch) who picked the best waves and surfed his way to victory. Cochrane, 2009 runner up in the Over 50’s Division, was a strong contender from the outset and was a deserving winner. John Eyerton (Whangarei) was a stand out surfer throughout the entire event, styling every wave that has come his way coming in third place. Rupert Newbold (Whangarei) placed fourth.
Junior Men’s
In the Junior Men’s Division Jackson Winter (Noosa, AUS) won his semi-final heat in style. Winter (AUS), a former Noosa Festival division winner, picked the best waves and continued his top form. Joseph Stewart (Whakatane) dominated semi-final heat two scoring some long nose rides to win easily. Winter (AUS) continued his run of good form surfing the clean lefts on offer in the final taking first place honours, and the 17-year-old showed superior wave selection and ability. Charlie Brown (Gisborne) picked off some great waves to take second place, with Stewart (Whakatane) in third and Matt Craig (Whakatane) in fourth place.
Open Women’s
In the Open Women’s Division semi-finals, the standout surfers were Nava Young (Australia) and 2009 Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour Women’s Champion Daisy Thomas (Christchurch). With a mix of international and local talent, the women’s final was a real crowd pleaser. Mischa Davis (Piha) showed excellent wave choice surfing out of her skin in the final. Davis (Oratia) is a regular on the Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour and was the eventual runner up to Daisy Thomas. Thomas (Christchurch) started the final strong and showed she is a top class competitor, picking off the some solid set waves to win the event. Nava Young (AUS) placed third and Claire Norman (Sydney, AUS) in fourth.
Open Men’s
The Open Men’s semi final was the last round held on Day two and was the climax of the day’s action. With conditions cleaning up in the evening, the large crowd witnessed some of the most explosive surfing seen at a Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour event. In semi-final one, the 2009 Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour Champion, Michael Burling (Hawkes Bay) picked off some great left handers and belted some vertical turns and on rail cutbacks. Dylan Barnfield (Ohope) scored the wave of the heat pulling a critical ‘hang ten’ followed up by a number of sharp re-entries to secure his spot in the final. The heat of the day was semi-final two featuring former World Champion (2006) Josh Constable (Noosa, AUS) and USA Champion Taylor Jensen (Oceanside, CA). Constable surfed a perfect ten point ride and had the crowd on their feet. A punchy right hander delivered itself to Constable and he started the wave by smashing a vertical re-entry followed by a free fall drop, and a sequence of big turns to the shore. Jensen (CA) also surfed some solid waves linking critical nose rides with big sharp turns.
The final saw two of New Zealand’s best longboarders face off against two of the world’s top professional longboarders. The heat started off with an exchange between Barnfield (Ohope) and Burling (Hawkes Bay). Both surfers locked in long high scoring waves but it was Jensen who dominated the entire final and in the closing minutes he had all surfers combo’d with a total heat score of 19.35 out of a possible 20.
Jensen demolished every wave he surfed, and showed why he has been US Champion three times. Fins free surfing and long nose rides pushed him out in the lead with all surfers requiring complete new wave scores to be in contention. Constable (AUS) had a late charge surfing a perfect ten point ride, linking a perfect hang ten with a fins free waft on the end section. But even with his perfect ten Constable was unable to catch Jensen in the final moments, and as the ocean went flat, the final hooter sounded on what has to be one of the closest finals in Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour history.
This is Jensen’s second Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour victory, winning the 2009 Christchurch event. Constable finished in second place, Burling in third and Barnfield in fourth.
Final results as follows:
Open Men
1st Taylor Jensen (USA), 2nd Josh Constable(AUS), 3rd Michael Burling (HBAY), 4th Dylan Barnfield
Open Women
1st Daisy Thomas (ChCh), 2nd Mischa Davis (Oratia), 3rd Nava Young (AUS), 4th Claire Norman (AUS)
Junior Men
1st Jackson Winter (AUS), 2nd Charlie Brown (GIS), 3rd Joseph Stewart (Whakatane), 4th Matt Craig (Whakatane)
Over 40’s
1st Brendan Young (Hawkes Bay), 2nd Lynden Kennings (Whangamata), 3rd Grant Cochrane (ChCh), 4th Rupert Newbold (Ocean Beach)
Over 50’s
1st Grant Cochrane (ChCh), 2nd Mike Thomson (Raglan), 3rd John Ayton (Sandy Bay), 4th Rupert Newbold (Ocean Beach)
Stand Up Paddleboard
1st Shane Baxter (Dunedin), 2nd Lynden Kennings (Whangamata), 3rd Arnie Armstrong (AKL), 4th Robert Hawkins (Raglan)
The remaining events for the 2010 Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour follows:
Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour Event 3, Dunedin – 20th – 21st February
Hyundai National Longboard Championships, Whangamata – 6th – 7th March
Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour Event 5, Port Waikato – 26th – 27th March |
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JENSEN AND SCHUMACHER TAKE PLA PRO CHAMPIONSHIPS
Tuesday, 17 November 2009 |
Oceanside -- The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Longboard Qualifying Series (LQS) 1-Star PLA Pro Championships saw local talent Taylor Jensen (Oceanside, CA), 25, take out the men’s division, while fellow San Diegan Cori Schumacher (Cardiff, CA), 34, clinched her second consecutive women’s ASP North America Longboard Title when she won the PLA Pro Championships presented by Gidget in the peaky two-to-three foot wind-swell on offer at South Oceanside Pier.
Jensen, who grew up surfing Oceanside’s beachbreak, was trailing in third place behind Tony Silvagni (Kure Beach, NC), 22, but battled back to overtake the lead by combining two lengthy noserides and progressive turns to eventually place the field in a combination situation before claiming the PLA Pro Championships, the last event on the 2009 regional series.
“I just lucked into a wave,” Jensen said. “Brendan (White) took the one before it and I just sort of lucked into it and it worked out.” Jensen, who has also been living in Australia, has been splitting his time between the two nations and was thrilled to take out a win at home after traveling back from Australia. “I was getting really excited about this contest on the flight over,” Jensen said. “There is hardly ever a contest here, so to win one is pretty special.”
Jensen dominated several ASP LQS events this year, claiming three contest victories while finishing No. 11 on the ASP World Longboard Tour. After capping his season off with an additional victory, he’ll look to next year where he’ll be competing as one of the world’s finest longboarders on the 2010 ASP WLT.
“I’m really happy with how the year went overall,” Jensen said. “The Australia leg went really well for me. I didn’t do as well as I would have liked on the World Tour, but I’ve requalified for next year. I started the year off with a win and to end it with a win is pretty ideal.”
Schumacher also dominated the tricky beachbreak conditions brought on by the drained out tide and shifting swell to claim the ASP 2-Star PLA Pro Championships presented by Gidget. The competitive veteran paced herself throughout the event, saving the best for last when left her fellow finalists, including reigning two-time ASP Women’s World Longboard Champion Jen Smith (San Diego, CA), 23, in need of two scores to overtake her commanding lead in the Final.
“I really learned my lesson at the last event in Ocean Beach because the conditions were similar to this and I was surfing super hard in every heat and was too tired by the end of the contest,” Schumacher said. “I tried to stay super mellow until the Final and then went all out.”
Although Schumacher was the 2008 regional champion, her title this year was won over several events whereas last year’s title was decided solely on one contest. “I’m stoked to take the regional title two years in a row,” Schumacher said. “This year has been different though because there have been several events instead of just the one and I really prefer it. I think all of the other girls do too.”
For additional PLA information log on to surfpla.com. For additional ASP information log on to aspworldtour.com or aspnorthamerica.org
PLA Pro Championships Final Results:
1 – Taylor Jensen (USA)
2 – Steve Newton (USA)
3 – Tony Silvagni (USA)
4 – Brendan White (USA)
PLA Pro Championships Semifinals Results:
Heat 1: Taylor Jensen (USA) 16.16, Tony Silvagni (USA) 13.06, Josh Baxter (USA) 11.90, Cole Robbins (USA) 8.07
Heat 2: Brendan White (USA) 13.83, Steve Newton (USA) 13.14, Troy Mothershead (USA) 10.94, Kai Sallas (HAW) 10.93
PLA Pro Championships Quarterfinals Results:
Heat 1: Tony Silvagni (USA) 12.04, Josh Baxter (USA) 11.53, Colin McPhillips (USA) 11.50, Duane DeSoto (HAW) 10.50
Heat 2: Taylor Jensen (USA) 13.67, Cole Robbins (USA) 12.00, Mike Stidham (USA) 10.43, Nelson Ahina (HAW) 9.30
Heat 3: Brendan White (USA) 15.16, Troy Mothershead (USA) 14.74, Noah Shimabukuro (USA) 10.10, Brett Robbins (USA) 7.07
Heat 4: Kai Sallas (HAW) 11.60, Steve Newton (USA) 11.30, Eli Gillis (USA) 11.27, Darren Eudaly (USA) 10.36
PLA Pro Championships Round of 32 Results:
Heat 1: Duane DeSoto (HAW) 13.67, Mike Stidham (USA) 11.83, Joe Aaron (USA) 11.50, Artie Castro (USA) 2.23
Heat 2: Colin McPhillips (USA) 14.60, Cole Robbins (USA) 11.17, Job Ishiki (USA) 8.33, Danny Ryder (USA) 3.63
Heat 3: Taylor Jensen (USA) 14.16, Tony Silvagni (USA) 10.90, Dennis Bourg (USA) 5.23, Tim Reda (USA) 4.77
Heat 4: Nelson Ahia (HAW) 12.67, Josh Baxter (USA) 11.33, Bryce Young (USA) Jerry Swearingen (USA) 7.26
Heat 5: Troy Mothershead (USA) 10.87, Eli Gillis (USA) 9.77, Keegan Edwards (HAW) 6.27, Byron Rohrer (USA) 5.70
Heat 6: Brendan White (USA) 14.83, Darren Eudaly (USA) 13.17, Greg Briggs (USA) 9.67, Chris Koerner (USA) 6.66
Heat 7: Kai Sallas (HAW) 16.34, Noah Shimabukuro (USA) 12.56, Scott Brandenburg (USA) 10.60, Cody Ulrich (USA) 6.14
Heat 8: Steve Newton (USA) 12.83, Brett Robbins (USA) 8.77, Wyatt Potts (USA) 5.70, Scott Flynn (USA) 4.36
PLA Pro Championships presented by Gidget Final Results:
1- Cori Schumacher (USA) 14.67
2 – Megan Godinez (HAW) 9.03
3 – Jen Smith (USA) 8.47
4 – Stacia Ahina (HAW) 6.97
PLA Pro Championships presented by Gidget Semifinals Results:
Heat 1: Jennifer Smith (USA) 12.40, Cori Schumacher (USA) 9.67, Lindsay Steinriede (USA) 9.60, Kate Easton (USA)
Heat 2: Stacia Ahina (HAW) 10.67, Megan Godinez (HAW) 8.93, Hallie Rohr (USA) 8.43, Crystal Dzigas (HAW) 7.17
www.surfpla.com
www.aspworldtour.com
www.aspnorthamerica.org |
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WAIT FOR START IN THE HYUNDAI PRO LONGBOARD TOUR
Tuesday, 5 January 2010 |
Next to no surf on the entire north east coast of the North Island combined with a poor swell forecast for the coming days have forced the postponement of the first event of the Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour scheduled to take place at Mount Maunganui this weekend (2-3 January 2010).
The event was to be the first of five major events held throughout New Zealand including one new event location (Dunedin) and a change to the National Longboard Championships which is now being held as a separate event.
“Unfortunately the swell around the Bay of Plenty has been in decline since Christmas Day” said Contest Director Ben Kennings. “The waves have barely been surfable for the past couple of days but they may have been contestable. The recent howling offshore winds have put pay to any remote chance of seeing the swell increase enough for the event to take place” added Kennings.
Organisers will now go back to the drawing board and look at what options are available to reschedule the event.
Surfing New Zealand CEO Greg Townsend is disappointed to see the event postponed this weekend.
“Everyone is frustrated that this event won’t kick off the summer season of events – the surfers, organisers, sponsors and the local Mount Maunganui surfing community” commented Townsend. “Unfortunately we are at the mercy of Mother Nature and this time round it has not cooperated” added Townsend.
Renowned as one of the sharpest yet fun surfing tours in New Zealand, the Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour was set to kick off in style with all day fun at the beach and great hospitality courtesy of Jacobson Motors in the evening.
Six divisions are contested on the tour – Open Men, Women, Junior Men (under 18), Over 40 and Over 50 and Stand Up Paddleboarding.
The complete calendar of events for the 2010 Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour follows:
Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour Event 1, Mount Maunganui – tbc
Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour Event 2, Sandy Bay – 5th – 7th February
Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour Event 3, Dunedin – 20th – 21st February
Hyundai National Longboard Championships, Whangamata – 6th – 7th March
Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour Event 5, Port Waikato – 26th – 27th March
Entry into remaining 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 2010 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.
Past Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour champions are set out below.
Open Men
2006 – Michael Fitzharris (Gis)
2007 – Daniel Kereopa (Rag)
2008 – Daryn Mcbride (Mnt)
2009 – Michael Burling (Gis)
Women
2006 – Pauline Pullman (Sandy Bay)
2007 – Anna Jolly (Piha)
2008 – Daisy Thomas (Chch)
2009 – Daisy Thomas (Chch)
Over 40
2006 – Brendon Young (HBay)
2007 – Michael Thomson (Rag)
2008 – Michael Thomson (Rag)
2009 – Lynden Kennings (WGM)
Over 50
2006 – David Storck (Piha)
2007 – Michael Thomson (Rag)
2008 – Viv Treacy (Whangarei)
2009 – David Storck (Piha)
Junior Men
2006 – Dylan Barnfield (Ohope)/Kirk Beyer (Wgtn)
2007 – Dylan Barnfield (Ohope)
2008 – Sam Guthrie (Mnt)
2009 – Sam Guthrie (Mnt)
Hyundai have been involved with Surfing New Zealand since 2004 and also sponsor the most prestigious event in New Zealand – The Hyundai National Championships.
High resolution action images of the surfing at all events on the Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour will be available to media free of charge upon request.
For more information on the Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour please contact Ben Kennings on 021 2278732 or email HYPERLINK "mailto:benkennings@surfingnz.co.nz" benkennings@surfingnz.co.nz. Alternatively, please contact Hyundai Brand Manager, Devyn Cantley on 64 9 573 2050 or HYPERLINK "mailto:dcantley@hyundai.co.nz" dcantley@hyundai.co.nz.
Surfing New Zealand are proudly partnered by
Hyundai
Export Gold
SPARC
Smokefree |
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SLIDE ISSUE#15 OUT NOW
Tuesday, 22 December 2009 |
SLIDE Magazine’s new issue is now hitting surf shops, bookstores, newsstands, and more around the world, and this edition is overflowing with fresh features sourced from an international cadre of writers and photographers, both esteemed and green, and all points in between.
No less than 14 exclusive articles are showcased in SLIDE #15, including:
• Surf Slidin’ Wahine – a roundtable interview with five of Hawaii’s best professional female longboarders, colorized with photos from Jim Russi, Paul Teruya, and Anthony Walsh
• In Search of Crazy Horse Point – the treasure hunt for a mysto Central American pointbreak by Chris Del Moro, Neal Purchase, Jr. and Kieren Perrow, captured by hot-handed photog Todd Glaser
• Skip Frye’s Fifteth – an exclusive interview with the inimitable Skip Frye
• Shadows of The Sleeping Lady – a look at the famed waves of Raglan and a few of the shapers that call the region home
• Harnessing the Here & Now – the first-ever gallery of moody surf photos from the talented eye of Ryan Tatar
• Ship to Shore – a timeline documenting the complete history of Grain Surfboards, written by Jon Coen and shot by Nick LaVecchia
• North Atlantic Gifts – a quick surf check in New York and New Jersey with Mikey DeTemple and presented by local shooter Tommy Colla
• Back to Basics – Cyrus Sutton’s latest film endeavor, highlighting the alaia-inspired wood craze with Tom Wegener, Ryan Burch and crew
• Merging – the unique relationship of Dane Peterson and his Japanese borad-builder Takuya Toshikawa, photographed by Peto, himself
• Plus a powdery Pacific travel tale from Michael Kew and Art Brewer, Uncrowded Indo with Martin Daly and Brian Keaulana, a quick interview with Robert August, the South Island art of Patrick Bonner, and much more…
Visit your local periodical purveyors for a copy, or contact info@slidemagazine.com for a directly-mailed issue. Aloha/ |
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HANDMADE BOARD BUILT, SURFED, RAFFLED IN HONOR OF A YOUNG ARTISTS/SURFERS LIFE
Saturday, 3 October 2009 |
A fundraising partnership has formed between Grain Surfboards, Corduroy Boutique & Gallery, Stoked Mentoring and the family of Jordan Kelly to raise funds benefitting at-risk youth. On the other side of the planet, surfers Dave Rastovich and Johnny Abegg teamed up in Australia with filmmaker Mick Waters to lend their support to the effort.
Most recently, Grain Surfboards donated a 5’4” Lis-style wood fish made from cedar and burled walnut to be raffled for the Jordan Kelly Surf School Fund at Stoked. Rasta and Abegg surfed the board “down under” where they were filmed by Waters for the upcoming film “Little Black Wheels” to be released this winter. The board is personally signed by Rasta himself.
The surfboard, valued at $2,000, will be awarded during a come-one, come-all event to be held at Corduroy Surf Boutique in Portland, Maine on November 11. Raffle tickets are $10 at www.grainsurfboards.com/raffle. (Winner is responsible for shipping the board, but we'll pack it!)
Shortly after his 21st birthday last year, Jordan Kelly died in a car accident on Thanksgiving night after a day of surfing, family and friends. He had a love of skating, surfing and woodworking and was drawn to the rootsy, DIY ethos of the wood surfboard builders at Grain Surfboards. Stoked Mentoring is a non profit action sports organization for at-risk youth with the mission of developing successful teens with opportunity, knowledge, experience, and determination through the use of action sports, mentoring and coaching. In Jordan’s memory, Grain, Jordan’s family and Stoked are planning surfboard-building classes for kids served by Stoked Mentoring. Special thanks to Corduroy Boutique & Gallery who, as a “combined lifestyle boutique and social scene”, tied everyone together and made it possible to establish the fund.
Links
Tix: http://www.grainsurfboards.com/raffle
Drawing info: http://www.surfskateartlove.blogspot.com/
Jordan Kelly pages:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=51101121524
http://www.grainsurfboards.com/board-stories/jordan-kelly-1987-2008/
http://www.grainsurfboards.com/board-stories/jordan-kellys-widening-circle/
Partners:
http://www.GrainSurfboards.com
http://www.Stoked.org
http://CorduroyBoutique.com |
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