The Rip Curl New Zealand Junior Surfing Team has contested the first two days of the 2009 Quiksilver ISA World Junior Surfing Championships notching up some impressive wins against the world class surfers from 28 countries around the world.

Nine of the twelve-strong team remain in the main event with three surfers having been relegated into the repercharge rounds. Being an ISA event, all surfers get two ‘lives’ at the event meaning a surfer can lose in Round 1 of the event and still move through to the final and win a world title.

The 2009 ISA Quiksilver World Junior Surfing Championships is being held at Salinas, Ecuador. The prestigious event takes place from the 28th of March through to the 5th April.

Bay of Plenty duo Alex Dive and Matt Hewitt have shown superior skills advancing through to the final 32 surfers in the Under 18 Men’s Division. Overnight Dive won his second round heat posting a brilliant 13.83 scoreline. Hewitt placed second in his heat scoring 12.84 out of a possible 20.

Dive defeated surfers from Hawaii, South Africa and Brazil to win his heat posting scores of 7.83 and 6.0. Equally as dominating was Matt Hewitt who posted scores of 8.17 and 4.67 to beat surfers from South Africa and Hawaii.

Overnight the Under 18 Girls got their campaigns underway with Alexis Poulter leading the way with an intelligently surfed heat. Poulter scored 9.83 to win her heat. India Wray-Murane (Raglan) and Rosa Thompson (Auckland) placed second in their heats to also move through the first round.

Surfers to be relegated into the repercharge rounds included Buck Woods, Johnny Hicks and Jayda Martin Fitzharris all of Gisborne. Woods and Hicks were contesting their second round match ups and both stumbled in heats that they should have advanced through. Martin-Fitzharris encountered a difficult heat first up and placed third but bounced back late in the day winning her repercharge round heat.

On the first day of the event the Under 16 Boys all progressed through their heats. Australian based Damo Norman was the pick of the boys performances winning his heat which included a 6.83 point ride – the ninth highest scoring wave of the round.

Ben Poulter (Raglan), Todd Doyle (Mount Maunganui) and Joe Moretti (Mimiwhangata) all made it through their first round heats placing second.

The Under 16 Boys are likely to hit the water for round 2 on day three of the event as well as the Under 18 Girls.

The swell is expected to increase further from the current 1.0m – 1.5m size at present.

Prior to the event kicking off the New Zealand team contested the SANZ Challenge with South Africa. The two time defending champ Kiwi team were defated by a strong South African outfit who won all three divisions as well as placing first and second in the tag team event. Shaun Joubert won the Under 18 Boys Division despite coming up against three Kiwis in the final. Joe Moretti (Mimiwhangata) was the most impressive in the Under 16 Boys making it through to the final as did Jayda Martin Fitzharris in the Under 18 Girls.

Please see below for day two results of the Rip Curl New Zealand Junior Surfing Team competing at the 2009 Quiksilver ISA World Junior Surfing Championships being held at Salinas, Ecuador.

Under 18 Boys Qualifying Round 1
Heat 7
1, Alex Dive, NZL, 2, Yuto Takahashi, JPN, 3, Daniel Kelly, MEX
Heat 10
1, Jonhny Hicks, NZL, 2, Kai Ojima, JPN, 3, Othmane Choufani, MOR
Heat 22
1, Buck Woods, NZL, 2, Taiki Kurokoshi, JPN, 3, Shane Simmonds, JAM
Heat 27
1, Matt Hewitt, NZL, 2, Kaishu Tanaka, JPN, 3, Kai Lowe, MEX

Under 18 Boys Qualifying Round 2
Heat 3
1, Alex Dive, NZL, 2, Matthew Bromley, ZAF, 3, Filipe Bras, BRA, 4, Tanner Hendrickso, HAW
Heat 6
1, Ian Gouveia, BRA, 2, Angelo Bonomelli, ITA, 3, Francisco Alves, POR, 4, Johnny Hicks, NZL
Heat 12
1, Johan de Aguiar, VEN, 2, Rainers Pena, VEN, 3, Francisco Sousa, POR, 4, Buck Woods, NZL
Heat 13
1, Miguel Pupo, BRA, 2, Matt Hewitt, NZL, 3, Dale Staples, ZAF, 4, Kyle Galtes, HAW

Under 18 Boys Qualifying Round 3 (Yet to be surfed)
Heat 1
Jordih Watson, AUS, Danny Bishko, CRI, Alex Dive, NZL, Eric Torres, PRC
Heat 8
Johnatan Zambran, ECU, Matt Hewitt, NZL, Nat Young, USA, Joaquin d Castillo., PER

Under 18 Repercharge Round 2 (Yet to be surfed)
Heat 5
Aaron Reid, IRE, Johnny Hicks, NZL, Armani Green, JAM, Julio Querales, VEN
Heat 11
Albee Layer, HAW, Buck Woods, NZL, Lloyd Jacks, JAM, Cillian Ryan, IRE

Under 16 Boys Qualifying Round 1
Heat 7
1, Slade Prestwich, ZAF, 2, Ben Poulter, NZL, 3, Iarom Travers, IRE, 4, Philipp Mappes, GER
Heat 11
1, David Brand, ZAF, 2, Todd Doyle, NZL, 3, Leonardo Fioravanti, ITA, 4, Conor Maguire, IRE
Heat 15
1, Mikey February, ZAF, 2, Joe Moretti, NZL, 3, James Garvey, IRE, 4, Cain Logue, IRE
Heat 19
1, Damien Norman, NZL, 2, Dane Staples, ZAF, 3, Alejandro Satt, CHI, 4, Vasco Fragoso, GER

Under 18 Girls Qualifying Round 1
Heat 7
1, Tanika Hoffman, ZAF, 2, Rosa Thompson, NZL, 3, Ocean Diamond, PRC, 4, Jodie Tracy, GER
Heat 11
1, Sarah Baum, ZAF, 2, India Wray Murane, NZL, 3, Kelly Laide, PRC, 4, Pamela Verboonen, MEX
Heat 15
1, Bianca Buitendag, ZAF, 2, Liza Caban, PRC, 3, Jayda Fitzharris, NZL, 4, Ninotchka Acevedo, PRC
Heat 19
1, Alexis Poulter, NZL, 2, Kirsty Delport, ZAF, 3, Virginia Giesen, GER, 4, Alejandra Gil Lopez, GUA

Under 18 Girls Qualifying Round 2 (Yet to be surfed)
Heat 4
Kaleigh Gilchrist, USA, Chelsea Tuach, BAR, Malia Manuel, HAW, Rosa Thompson, NZL
Heat 6
Lakey Peterson, USA, Gabi Rowe, UK, Leila Hurst, HAW, India W. Murane, NZL
Heat 9
Kirby Wright, AUS, Valeria Sole, PER, Alexis Poulter, NZL, Ana Sarmento, POR

Under 18 Girls Repercharge Round 1
Heat 7
1, Jayda Fitzharris, NZL, 2, Tassy Swallow, UK

The World Junior Surfing Championships is an annual event having been held since 2003. New Zealand has competed at the event since its inception as well as competing at the World Grommet Titles as it was formerly known since 1989. New Zealand has been one of the top nations at each event with Jay Quinn (Gis) securing New Zealand’s first World Championship in the Under 18 Men’s division in 2001. In 2008 the New Zealand team placed sixth at the event with the best result coming from Airini Mason who placed fourth in the Under 18 Girls Division.

The event is being broadcast live over the net via www.isasurf.org. Media releases relating specifically to the New Zealand team’s performance will be distributed throughout the event.

For further information regarding the New Zealand Junior Surfing Team please contact Ben Kennings at Surfing New Zealand 07 8250018, 0212278732 or email benkennings@surfingnz.co.nz.

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Just spent a week down at Northstar resort in Tahoe California. It’s was soooo sunny, my lips are real burnt. Burton is pretty strongly associated with Northstar so I was filming a bunch of new freestyle instructional content for www.SnowboardAddiction.com it’s gonna turn out rad so I’ll put something up here when it’s done.

Here’s a pic off www.surf.co.nz . . .

My last chance to shine and increase my final rating all came to a holt a few too many rounds early on the weekend at Port Waikato. Instead of making the final and winning the event like planned, I was pushed out of the contest in round two by a past and present national champ.

My round two heat consisted of Daniel Proctor (NZ champ) Kelly Ryan (past NZ champ), Dave Elley a Raglan ripper, me and not too many waves as you can see in these pics . . .

Tongan born Gisborne based surfer Michael Burling has come from behind to narrowly win the 2009 Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour today (Saturday 28th March) after winning the final event of the season held at Port Waikato in what was a dramatic climax to the season.

Above: Michael Burling – Image PhotoCPL

Burling went into the final event of the year placed third on the ratings but his win today coupled with the demise of his two closest opponents, Thomas Kibblewhite (Auck) and Daniel Procter (Gis) meant that he took a crowd pleasing title.

“It has been a tough year – I wasn’t even going to do the tour this year but I did the first event and the competitive side of me came out and I couldn’t resist and yeah, here I am at the top of the ratings” said Burling.

Due to his Tongan descent, Burling is unable to contest the Hyundai National Championships presented by Quiksilver and is always caught behind the elite pack of New Zealand’s top longboarders as a result. However his form this year has been rather remarkable. Burling took out the final two events of the year and placed runner up in the third and fourth events of the year to show not only a consistent run of form but also the ability to transform consistency into big wins when it matters most.

“What stood out for me this year was simply never giving up in events, competing until the end and giving it my all” said Burling adding “All credit to Daniel [Procter] and Thomas [Kibblewhite], they have both had amazing years as well so I am just stoked to come out beating them”.

Burling finished with a 16.05 heat total in the final, less than a point clear of Mount Maunganui surfer Owen Barnes on 15.20.

“I went out with a simple plan of making the most of the waves before the tide went out too much. I got that 8.75 point ride on my first wave and that killed the nerves somewhat”. “At the end the others came back though and I didn’t quite know what the others needed to beat me so I started to tense up.

Midway through the final the win looked all Burlings, however it was the competitive experience of Barnes that pushed him back into contention.

Barnes completed several big vertical turns on one wave to score 7.70 and jump back into contention. He then took a wave with two minutes remaining to score 7.50 out of a possible 10 points which was short of the 8.36 required for the win.

It was Barnes’ second runner up placing of the year after he performed well at his home break at the first event of the tour.

Placing third today was the number one seed going into the event – Thomas Kibblewhite (Auck).

Kibblewhite needed to win the final event with Burling placing no higher than third today but from the outset of the final and the form that Burling was in, that never looked likely.

Kibblewhite ultimately finished the Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour placed second. In another noticeably stellar year-long performance Kibblewhite showed his consistency by placing in every one of the six finals this season.

Fourth place today went to Gisborne’s Kelly Ryan. Ryan stormed through to the final as the dark horse. A part-time competitor on the tour, Ryan showed the style required to make it to the final but his good run came to a close in the final scoring 11.40 out of a possible 20.

Earlier in the semifinals, the third part to the title race, Daniel Procter (Gis), suffered a shock elimination in what he called “the worst heat” he surfed all year. He placed third in the semifinal to Burling and Ryan. Jamie Andrews (Tara) placed fourth in that semifinal and finished seventh overall.

In the first semifinal Kibblewhite and Barnes put an end to the run of Dylan Barnfield (Ohope) and Sam Guthrie (Mnt) who placed fifth and seventh respectively.

Daisy Thomas (Chch) completed the unimaginable feat today jumping from fourth to first on the ratings to defend her title by way of her win in the Open Women’s Division. Thomas had it all in front of her and the pressure looked too much early on as she found herself trailing the other surfers. Thomas’ patience finally paid off though as she found a long lefthander to score 8.0 and move into the lead late in the final. Her win will be sweet after only competing in four of the six events this year and falling off the pace after two early wins on the tour.

Above: MD Ambassador Daisy Thomas – Image PhotoCPL

Second today was part-time longboarder Mischa Davis (Piha) who led much of the final ending with a heat total of 10.75 points. Number one seed for the event, Jo Moore (Tara) placed third in the final to be bumped into second on the overall Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour ratings. Gisborne surfer Belinda Galley placed fourth in the final.

Sam Guthrie (Mnt) was unstoppable in the Junior Men’s Division taking his fourth straight event and hence the 2009 Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour. Guthrie posted 14.35 points in the final including an excellent 8.0 point ride. The smooth goofy foot surfer held off his three Ohope opponents but only just with Hone Douglas placing second to secure his best result of the year. Douglas scored 14.25 in the final – a mere 0.10 behind Guthrie. Rick Williamson placed third with Eli Barnfield in fourth.

Lynden Kennings (WGM) made it a clean sweep of wins in the Over 40 Men’s Division for the year winning all four events that he entered. The fourth and final win was the closest of the lot with double finalist Michael Thomson (Rag) riding a final wave to score 6.40. A 6.50 would have seen him take the title but he fell agonisingly short of taking his second title of the day.

Grant Cochrane (Chch) could not better his third in the Over 50 Men’s Division picking up another in the Over 40 Men’s Division posting 10.5 in the final – not far off the front runners with Kennings scoring 12.4 and Thomson scoring 12.3. Brian Young (Orewa) also scored 10.50 to finish fourth on a count-back.

Michael Thomson (Rag) won his first event of the year in the Over 50 Men’s Division scoring 11.40. Thomson did enough to push David Storck (Piha) into second place. The loss was not the way Storck wanted to finish the season but with the result he did manage to take out the Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour for 2009. It has been three years since Storck first won the title in 2006 and it was a happy return to the top of the table for the Piha surfer.

Christchurch surfer Grant Corchrane placed third in the final today with winner of the most recent event, Paul Browne (Auck), in fourth.

Open Men’s Division Quarterfinals
Heat 1
Dylan Barnfield (Ohope), 1, Owen Barnes (Mnt), 2, Lynden Kennings (Whmata), 3, Morgan Bramely (Whtane), 4
Heat 2
Thomas Kibblewhite (Auck), 1, Sam Guthrie (Mnt), 2, Mathew Cockayne (Mngwhai), 3, Kieran Plim (Sydney), 4
Heat 3
Daniel Proctor (Gis), 1, Jamie Andrews (Waitara), 2, Rick Williamson (Ohope), 3, Leroy Rust (Dun), 4
Heat 4
Michael Burling (Gis), 1, Kelly Ryan (Gis), 2, Ant McColl (Mnt), 3, Wyn Hoogerbrugger (Kaukapakapa), 4

Open Men’s Semifinals
Heat 1
Thomas Kibblewhite (Auck), 1, Owen Barnes (Mnt), 2, Dylan Barnfield (Ohope), 3, Sam Guthrie (Mnt), 4
Heat 2
Michael Burling (Gis), 1, Kelly Ryan (Gis), 2, Daniel Proctor (Gis), 3, Jamie Andrews (Waitara), 4

Open Men’s Final
Michael Burling (Gis), 1, Owen Barnes (Mnt), 2, Thomas Kibblewhite (Auck), 3, Kelly Ryan (Gis), 4

Open Women’s Semifinals
Heat 1
Josephine Moore (Tara), 1, Mischa Davis (Oratia), 2, Shelly Jones (Auck), 3
Heat 2
Daisy Thomas (ChCh), 1, Belinda Galley (Gis), 2, Lauren Johnson (Auck), 3

Open Women’s Final
Daisy Thomas (ChCh), 1, Mischa Davis (Oratia), 2, Josephine Moore (Tara), 3, Belinda Galley (Gis), 4

Under 18 Men’s Semifinals
Heat 1
Rick Williamson (Ohope), 1, Eli Barnfield (Ohope), 2, Joseph Stewart (Whtane), 3, Leroy Rust ((Dun), 4
Heat 2
Sam Guthrie (Mnt), 1, Hone Douglas (Whtane), 2, Blake Barnfield (Ohope), 3, Sam Hawke (ChCh), 4

Under 18 Men’s Final
Sam Guthrie (Mnt), 1, Hone Douglas (Whtane), 2, Rick Williamson (Ohope), 3, Eli Barnfield (Ohope), 4

Over 40 Men’s Semifinals
Heat 1
Lynden Kennings (Piha), 1, Grant Cochrane (ChCh), 2, David Storck (Auck), 3, Warwick Gray (Hawaii), 4
Heat 2
Brian Young (Orewa), 1, Mike Thomson (Rag), 2, Tatana Heke (Mnt), 3, Dave Hunt (Mnt), 4

Over 40 Men’s Final
Lynden Kennings (Piha), 1, Mike Thomson (Rag), 2, Grant Cochrane (ChCh), 3, Brian Young (Orewa), 4

Over 50 Men’s Semifinals
Heat 1
Mike Thomson (Rag), 1, David Storck (Auck), 2, Keith Redman (Rag), 3, Buzzy Kerbox (Hawaii), N/S
Heat 2
Paul Browne (Orewa), 1, Grant Cochrane (ChCh), 2, Warwick Gray (Hawaii), 3, Barry Watkins (Te Puke), 4

Over 50 Men’s Final
Mike Thomson (Rag), 1, David Storck (Auck), 2, Grant Cochrane (ChCh), 3, Paul Browne (Orewa), 4

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Sup. Not much at all to report here…back into a bit of work and save before the NZ winter rolls around. Rumors down these ways are that Snow Parks not gona open but keep an ear out to see the outcome of that.

I went to Riverton on Monday for a bit of a surf, I’d never been before . . . it pumps down there! Go check it out but stay out of the way of the locals! Anyways will get back at ya soon. Chur

What’s up NZ!!!! Its awesome being Ambassadors for Mountain Dew – we love Mountain Dew!! Let me introduce ourselves, we are Legacy Dance Crew from Wellington. We’ve represented NZ at the World Hip Hop Dance Champs in USA in 2006 & 2008. Last year we came 6th out 33 international crews at the world champs. We’ve been together for 3 years now and have performed all over NZ as well as holding workshops at schools and within the community.

We’ve just competed at the first Wellington Hip Hop Dance Champs hosted by Hip Hop Aotearoa NZ. Six crews qualified to rep Welly at the National champs and compete to rep NZ at the world champs held this year in Las Vegas. Here are the results:

Adult Division:
1st Legacy
2nd Infinite
3rd Habit

Varsity Division:
1st Explicit
2nd Emerge
3rd Authentic

All of the crews were mean and will definitely give the rest of the country a run for their money. Well we’re up in Palmerston North next at the Festival of Cultures and then we’re competing at the National Champs in Auckland 3 & 4 April held at the Telstra Clear Arena in Manukau. You can get tickets from Ticket Direct, come and check it out, we’d love to see you there!

Till next time….Liston

Three revered Hawaiian surfers including internationally renowned Buzzy Kerbox, have made their way to New Zealand this week to be part of the final event of the Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour at Port Waikato, starting this Friday 27th March.

Traveling with Kerbox is Titus Kinimaka -who has traveled the world as a surf ambassador for over 20 years, Ekolu Kalama – known as the first ever professional stand-up paddler and New Zealand born Campbell Farrell – the first Kiwi to ever surf the infamous Jaws break in Hawaii.

The Hawaiian surfers will be taking part in what they call an ‘expression session’ at the Hyundai event this weekend, demonstrating stand-up paddling.

On Monday the Hawaiians were officially welcomed to Raglan by the local Iwi with a Powhiri. The Hawaiians were blown away by the cultural exchange and the time given to their presence at Raglan by the locals. Since then they have experienced three beautiful days of perfect surf on the points of Raglan.

Their attention will turn to the Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour on Friday with New Zealand’s best battling it out for the five titles on offer.

The Port Waikato title showdown hangs in the balance between the three front runners on the Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour ratings – Thomas Kibblewhite (Auck), Daniel Procter (Gis) and Michael Burling (Gis).

The coveted Open Men’s Division title is likely to come down to the final heat of the sixth and final event of the tour. While Thomas Kibblewhite will go into the event as the number one seed, it is second and third placed Procter and Burling that are in a more favourable position to win the tour.

Each surfers best five results count toward their year ratings. Procter and Burling are yet to contest their fifth event of the year while Kibblewhite has attended all events on the Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour to date hence his number one ranking and highest points tally.

For Kibblewhite to win, he will have to withhold Procter and Burling to third or worse in the final or eliminate them prior to the finals to be safe.

Procter is the only surfer with his destiny in his own hands. By placing first or second he will clinch the title.

Burling requires a win with Procter to finish no higher than third and Kibblewhite to finish no higher than second to take the title.

The pressure on the top three surfers will also be compounded by a raft of others trying to have an impact on the outcome and ultimately win the event. Surfers like the winner of event one – Dylan Barnfield (Ohope) and Auckland’s Phil Morris could easily upset the front runners. Junior surfers Sam Guthrie (Mnt) and Leroy Rust (Dun) have also flashes of brilliance that could see them reach the final for the first time this year.

The Open Women’s Division title will come down to four surfers with defending champion Daisy Thomas (Chch) sitting in fourth requiring a win and current number one Jo Moore (Tara) requiring a second or better to win the tour.

Local Port Waikato surfer Shereen Lobb sits in second place and can also win the tour by clinching her first event win of the year although other results would have to go her way. Auckland’s Shelley Jones who currently sits in third place can also take the tour title with a good result at the final Port Waikato event.

Defending Junior Men’s Champion Sam Guthrie (Mnt) has the title all but sealed. It would take a small miracle for Dunedin surfer Leroy Rust take the title – only possible with a win from Rust and first round exit by Guthrie.

Lynden Kennings (WGM) is the sole surfer that has stitched up his division prior to the final event. Kennings has gone undefeated in the three events he has contested in 2009. Mount Maunganui surfer Mal Brady currently sits in second place with Piha’s David Storck in third.

Storck on the other hand leads the Over 50 Men’s Division and will enter the final event of the Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour in a four way battle for the title. Other contenders include Barry Watkins (Te Puke), Paul Browne (Orewa) and Grant Cochrane (Chch).

The event takes place from 8am – 4pm on Friday and Saturday with live streaming via http://www.surf.co.nz/hyundai/index.asp

Please see below for Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour ratings after five of six events.

Open Men’s Top 10
1, Thomas Kibblewhite (Auck)
2, Daniel Proctor (Gis)
3, Michael Burling (Gis)
4, Dylan Barnfield (Ohope)
5, Sam Guthrie (Mnt)
6, Leroy Rust (Dun)
7, Shayne Baxter (ChCh)
8, Phil Morris (Auck)
9, Lynden Kennings (Whmata)
10, Emanuele Lai (Auck)

Open Women’s Top 5
1, Josephine Moore (Tara)
2, Shereen Lobb (Port Wai)
3, Shelly Jones (Auck)
4, Daisy Thomas (ChCh)
5, Belinda Galley (Gis)

Under 18 Men’s Top 5
1, Sam Guthrie (Mnt)
2, Leroy Rust ((Dun)
3, Rick Williamson (Ohope)
4, Sam Hawke (ChCh)
5, Eli Barnfield (Ohope)

Under 40 Men’s Top 5
1, Lynden Kennings (Piha)
2, Mal Brady (Mnt)
3, David Storck (Auck)
4, Rob Hawkins (Rag)
5, Grant Cochrane (ChCh)

Over 50 Men’s Top 5
1, David Storck (Auck)
2, Barry Watkins (Te Puke)
3, Paul Hardy Browne (Orewa)
4, Grant Cochrane (ChCh)
5, Ian Parker (Auck)