IN FORM: Thomas Kibblewhite will be the man to beat at Papamoa this weekend. Photo: Cory / NZ Surfing Magazine
IN FORM: Thomas Kibblewhite will be the man to beat at Papamoa this weekend. Photo: Cory / NZ Surfing Magazine
Papamoa Beach is set to become the focal point of longboard and stand up paddleboard surfing this weekend with the Barrett Homes New Zealand Longboard and SUP Open taking place today and Sunday.
Top competitors from around the country are expected to compete over the two days. Earlier predictions ofa stormy weekend have eased with a much sunnier outlook and just enough swell to contest the event.
Red Beach surfer and new national champion Thomas Kibblewhite will look to keep a clean slate this weekend contesting the Sky Optics Men's Longboard Division. Kibblewhite won the National Championships at Piha in January after an extended time out of the water due to injury.
Kibblewhite will also contest the Copious Logger Division where he will meet ex-local Daryn McBride who now resides at Port Waikato and Mount Maunganui surfer Duncan Cameron, two excellent exponents of the traditional longboard. Gisborne surfer Kelly Ryan will also contest the division after recently winning the Makorori First Light event held at Gisborne two weeks ago.
Stand Up Paddleboard veteran Shane Murrell (Auckl) will defend his title in the Starboard Men's SUP with a bunch of young talent keen to meet up in the final. Taranaki's Kane Rowson makes his first appearance at the event after winning the Taranaki SUP Classic held at Waitara two weeks ago. Others to look out for include Karlos Aarsen (WGM), Alan Te Moananui (Kaiks) and Ollie Houghton (Auck).
Houghton will be the favourite going in to the Starboard King of the Waves Race as well after winning the race in 2016 and also winning many of the domestic races here in New Zealand over the past twelve months.
The Barrett Homes NZ Longboard and SUP Open also provided opportunities for the older surfers keen to compete with the Sticky Johnson Over 40s and Over 50s Divisions. These divisions have been dominated by Mount Maunganui surfers in the past with Owen Barnes being two time defending champion in the Over 40s Division and Jeremy Williams winning the Over 50s Division.
Stella Smith (Gis) will lead the females at the event after winning the National Championships in the SUP Division while Auckland's Sasha Brownlee is the early favourite in the Women's Longboard Division.
