For immediate release
19th February 2017
From: Surfing New Zealand
Sport: Surfing
Event: 2017 Barrett Homes New Zealand Longboard and SUP Open
Location: Papamoa Beach, Bay of Plenty
Event Info: Surfing New Zealand #NZLO2017
Can’t Catch Kibblewhite at Papamoa
Red Beach surfer Thomas Kibblewhite returned to the winners podium for the second straight national event this weekend, winning the SPY Optics Men’s Longboard Division of the Barrett Homes New Zealand Longboard and SUP Open completed at Papamoa Beach today (Sunday 19 February).
The surf was fractionally bigger for the final day of the event with a small 0.5m swell and the Bay of Plenty finally drying out and basking in sunshine.
Kibblewhite, who recently won the National Championships, continued his exceptional form posting a 17.2 point heat total in the final. He started with a nine point ride on his first wave and by the end of his second, had a stranglehold on the final that was not to be challenged.
Both Owen Barnes (Mnt) and Paul Culpan (Auck) posted 14 point heat totals but were still left chasing near perfect rides to catch Kibblewhite, the two surfers finishing second and third respectively. Port Waikato surfer Daryn McBride finished the final in fourth place after becoming wave starved early on and not being able to catch up.
McBride had earlier claimed the prized title of first place in the Copious Logger Division where he used his precision traditional surfing to trounce his opponents. McBride posted a 15.2 point heat total for the final and in doing so also claimed the ‘Katin best nose ride of the event’ award which he mentioned was the prize he wanted most from the weekend.
Paul Culpan claimed a runner up finish to go with his third in the Men’s Longboard Division while Kelly Ryan (Gis) finished in third and Thomas Kibblewhite (Auck) finished in fourth.
Auckland’s Ollie Houghton took the only double title of the weekend winning both the Starboard Men’s SUP Division and the King of the Waves Race. Houghton snatched victory in the surf narrowly edging out New Plymouth’s Kane Rowson who had led from the outset. Rowson ultimately finished in second place with Karlos Aarsen (WGM) finishing in third and Alan Te Moananui (Kaik) in fourth.
The event finished with the King of the Waves Race where Houghton beat his opponents by more than two minutes after completing three laps of the course which went through the line-up. The godfather of the sport Jeremy Stephenson (Auck) came back from injury to place second ahead of Ollie Houghton’s Dad, Gavin, in third.
Stella Smith (Gis) asserted her dominance on the Starboard Women’s SUP Surf Division with a comprehensive win. The 14-year-old will represent New Zealand at the World Championships at the end of the year where she is expected to challenge the best in the world. Today she finished with a 16.3 point heat total. Renee Davenport (Rag) placed second in the final ahead of Briana Orams (Auck) in third and Georgia Schofield (Auck) in fourth.
In the Makaraka Estate Women’s Longboard Division it was Sasha Brownlie (Auck) that stylishly claimed the title over Hannah Kibblewhite (Auck), Eva Petrikova (Mnt) and Marguerite Vujcich (HBay).
Owen Barnes defended his title in the Sticky Johnson Over 40s Longboard while Mark Hoyle (Orewa) claimed the title in the Papamoa Tavern Over 50s Longboard Division.
Please see below for final results from the 2017 Barrett Homes NZ Longboard and SUP Open completed at Papamoa Beach today (Sunday 19th February).
SPY Optics Men’s Longboard Semifinals
Heat 1
Owen Barnes (Mnt), 14.83, 1, Thomas Kibblewhite (Auck), 14.5, 2, Tane Wallis (Piha), 6, 3, Justin Bambery (Auck), 5.73, 4
Heat 2
Daryn McBride (Port Wai), 12.97, 1, Paul Culpan (Auck), 9.27, 2, Zen Wallis (Piha), 9.17, 3, Rupert Newbold (Ocean Beach), 3.77, 4
SPY Optics Men’s Longboard Final
Thomas Kibblewhite (Auck), 1, Owen Barnes (Mnt), 2, Paul Culpan (Auck), 3, Daryn McBride (Port Wai), 4
Copious Logger Division Final
Daryn McBride (Port Wai), 15.2, 1, Paul Culpan (Auck), 12.9, 2, Kelly Ryan (Gis), 12, 3, Thomas Kibblewhite (Auck), 11.9, 4
Sticky Johnson Over 40 Longboard Final
Owen Barnes (Mnt), 16.2, 1, Wyn Hoogarbruger (Auck), 12.1, 2, Mal Brady (Mnt), 8.6, 3, David Storck (Piha), 8, 4
Papamoa Tavern Over 50s Division
Mark Hoyle (Orewa), 12.1, 1, Brian Young (Auck), 10.9, 2, David Storck (Auck), 8.47, 3, Mal Brady (Mnt), 7.77, 4
Makaraka Estate Women’s Longboard Final
Sasha Brownlie (Auck), 15.8, 1, Hannah Kibblewhite (Red Beach), 11, 2, Eva Petrikova (Mnt), 4.73, 3, Marguerite Vujcich (Hbay), 4.23, 4
Starboard Men’s SUP Surf Final
Ollie Houghton (Auck), 13.273, 1, Kane Rowson (Tara), 13, 2, Karlos Aarsen (Whmata), 11.23, 3, Alan Te Moananui (Kaik), 9.03, 4
Starboard Womens SUP Surf Semifinal
Heat 1
Stella Smith (Gis), 12.8, 1, Briana Orams , 6.57, 2, Naiomi Mederios (Whanga), 5.33, 3, Eva Petrikova (Mnt), 4.37, 4
Heat 2
Georgia Schofield (Auck), 9, 1, Renee Davenport (Rag), 6.57, 2, Lucy Te Moananui (Kaik), 6, 3, Penelope Strickland (Auck), 5.17,
Starboard Women’s SUP Surf Final
Stella Smith (Gis), 16.3, 1, Renee Davenport (Rag), 8.53, 2, Briana Orams (Auck), 6.47, 3, Georgia Schofield (Auck), 4.47, 4
Starboard SUP King of the Waves
1st – Ollie Houghton (Auck) – 17:04
2nd – Jeremy Stephenson (Auck) – 19:25
3rd – Gavin Houghton (Auck) – 20:26
1st – Penelope Strickland (Auck) – 21:48
2nd – Briana Orams – 24:33
Further Information
For further information on the 2017 Barrett Homes New Zealand Longboard and SUP Open please contact Surfing New Zealand’s Ben Kennings on 021 2278732 or email benkennings@surfingnz.co.nz.
Imagery
High resolution action images of the surfing at the event will be available to media free of charge courtesy of Surf2Surf.com.
Event Hotline
The Surfing New Zealand event hotline is 0211134506. This will be updated daily at approximately 7am with venue, divisions contested and conditions for the day.
Partners
Generous support from Barrett Homes, Grassroots Foundation, SPY Optics, Sticky Johnson, Copious, Something to Crow About, Wine2U, Starboard, Waterman Store, Katin, Surf2Surf.com and the Papamoa Tavern have made this event possible.
Follow the event
Follow the action via all social media platforms – @surfingnz. Follow the event hashtag – #NZLO2017.
Surfing New Zealand are proudly partnered by
Sport NZ
SunSmart
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