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Sandy Bay Attracts Superstars of Longboarding |
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Written by Ben Kennings
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Thursday, 04 February 2010 |
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Taylor Jensen - Image PhotoCPL
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The Sandy Bay leg of the Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour has attracted a star studded field of surfers for what is now the opening event on the 2010 Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour. The tour opener is scheduled to take place over three days commencing at Sandy Bay tomorrow (Friday 5th February).
American surfer Taylor Jensen has returned to New Zealand to compete at the event along with his partner Nava Young, daughter of Ex World Champion and surfing legend Nat Young. The two surfers are joined by Australian Josh Constable who has traversed the ditch to be at the event this weekend.
Jensen and Young last visited New Zealand for the Christchurch event on the 2009 Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour. Jensen beat all comers at that event with an exceptional array of manoeuvres not seen in New Zealand before.
Jensen finished the World Tour in 11th place in 2009. This year he will be pushed to the limits in New Zealand by Constable who finished 2009 in 19th place. Constable lasted visited New Zealand to compete in 2007 when he won the South Island Longboard Pro Am.
Together the two surfers will come up against New Zealand’s best longboarders.
Defending event champion Daniel Procter (Gis) has had itchy feet since the cancellation of the first event of the tour that was scheduled for Mount Maunganui on the 2-3 January. By this stage of the tour in 2009, Procter had a big lead on the ratings after winning the Hyundai National Champs. He then went on to win the Sandy Bay event before finishing the year in second place behind Michael Burling (Hawkes Bay).
Burling, who recently transferred to the Hawkes Bay Region for work, will want to make this event count with a big result now that there are only four events on the tour in 2010.
Burling has been at a disadvantage each year with his Tongan citizenship preventing him from competing at the National Champs. However the increase in rating of the final event of the year held at Port Waikato to six stars ($6,800 in prize money) means that Burling could come home strong and snatch another victory. Burling won the last two events of the tour in 2009 to drive away with the Hyundai Santa Fe and the coveted 2009 Tour title.
The Sandy Bay leg of the Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour has traditionally attracted a large number of older surfers. 2010 is no different with the Over 40 and Over 50 Men’s Divisions jam packed with talent.
This year’s event has also attracted champion boardsailer and avid surfer Barbara Kendall back to Sandy Bay for the second year running.
Hyundai’s push to find New Zealand’s surfing families has lifted entry levels also. Families* that enter each event go in the end of tour draw with the winner driving home in a new Hyundai Santa Fe.
The 2010 tour also introduces a specific Stand Up Paddleboard division. Sandy Bay will be the first event to stage this division and again numbers have continued to increase throughout the week as word spreads. The Stand Up Paddleboard division is supported by Starboard Paddleboards.
The field of surfers for the Sandy Bay event has topped 120 and this year organisers have opted to run a three day event to cater for the massive field of competitors from all over New Zealand.
Six divisions are contested on the tour – Open Men, Women, Junior Men (under 18), Over 40 and Over 50 and Stand Up Paddleboarding.
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
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.
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 benkennings@surfingnz.co.nz. Alternatively, please contact Hyundai Brand Manager, Devyn Cantley on 64 9 573 2050 or dcantley@hyundai.co.nz.
Surfing New Zealand are proudly partnered by:
Hyundai
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Ends
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