Gisborne Hyundai Pro Longboard 06

 

TONGAN TAKES THE TITLE AT LAST EVENT OF HYUNDAI PRO LONGBOARD TOUR

Tongan surfer Michael Burling has taken out the final event on the 2006 Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour. The big Tongan convincingly won the final in flawless 1.0m – 1.5m swells fanned by offshore winds at Gisborne’s Makarori Beach.

Even though local surfer Michael Fitzharris was eliminated in the semi finals of the event this weekend, it was enough for him to hold on and win the tour and along with that a twelve month lease on a new 2006 Hyundai 2.9 CRDi Terracan. Fitzharris was speechless as he held the tour trophy aloft only to see a shiny black Terracan roll through the crowd stopping at his feet.

Back in the final, the telling blow came with only five minutes remaining when Burling rode a lefthander down the beach that included an insane backhand tube ride – one of few ridden all weekend. The wave scored a near perfect 9.75 and pushed Burling into the lead with the other three surfers then requiring a combination of rides to win. The win elevated Burling into the top ten surfers on the Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour for 2006 after surfing in only four of the six events.

Thomas Kibblewhite (Auck) lead for much of the final after surfing a nice 7.75 point ride midway through the heat but had to settle for second place – his third of the tour this year. Both Kirk Beyer (Wgtn) and Brendon Young (HBay) surfed their second finals of the day and looked to run out of puff in the solid surf. The two surfers finished third and fourth respectively.

Earlier Brendon Young finished the tour with yet another win in the Over 40s, his fourth in five events. Young was unstoppable in the final scoring 13.90 which included a 7.25 and a 6.65. The double finalist stayed in the water for back to back finals in the abovementioned open men’s. David Storck (Auck) held on to second slightly ahead of Mike Thomson (Rag) in third and Richard Dorahy (Whangarei) in fourth.

The junior men’s final was drama filled as Kirk Beyer came up from a wipe out to see his nine foot board floating in two pieces. Beyer had to return to shore where his Dad was waiting for him with another board. From there he charged back out into the line up with fierce determination and rode two good scoring rides to storm into the lead and take the win. In doing so he snuck into first equal with Dylan Barnfield (Ohope) on the tour ratings. Barnfield was left in second place wondering how it got away from him. Sam Guthrie (Mnt) placed third in the final after leading at one point and Warren McKenzie (HBay) placed fourth.

It only took two waves for Pauline Pullman (Sandy Bay) to secure her second win of the tour and in doing so win the overall women’s title for 2006. Pullman score 6.0 on her first ride, the highest score of the women’s final. Her second ride was a 4.75 which was enough to secure the win. Michelle Langdon (Mnt) in her first event of the year surfed to second place. Langdon usually rides a shortboard but has often been seen making the transition. Jo Moore (Mur) held the ratings lead going into the final event of the season but could not retain her lead finishing in third. Anna Jolly (Piha) rounded out the top four surfers and in doing so moves to third on the Hyundai Pro Longboard ratings.

Viv Tracey (Ocean Beach) picked up his second win of the tour scorching the final scoring 14.5 to win the over 50s. Tracey was in tune with the sets and finished the final with a 7.05 to extend his lead over tour leader David Storck (Auck). Storck placed second in the final and that was enough to retain his lead on the tour and take out the Over 50s. Local surfer Chris Ransley could not repeat his heroics of day one and had to settle for third after not being able to find a good second wave. Warren Thomsen (Whangarei) placed fourth in his first final of the year.

Results

Hyundai Open Men Finals
Michael Burling (Auck), 1, Tom Kibblewhite (Acuk), 2, Kirk Beyer (Wgtn), 3, Brendon Young (HBay), 4

Hyundai Over 40'S Finals
Brendon Young (HBay), 1, David Storck (Auck), 2, Mike Thomson (Rag), 3, Richard Dorahy (Whgrei), 4

Hyundai Over 50'S Finals
Viv Treacy (Ocn Bch), 1, David Storck (Auck), 2, Chris Ransley (Gis), 3, Warren Thompson (Ocn Bch), 4

Hyundai Junior Finals
Kirk Beyer (Wgtn), 1, Dylan Barnfield (Ohope), 2, Sam Guthrie (Mnt), 3, Warren McKenzie (HBay), 4

Hyundai Women Finals
Pauline Pullman (Sandy Bay), 1, Michelle Langdon (Mnt), 2, Josephine Moore (Mur), 3, Anna Jolly (Piha), 4

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