Mount Maunganui longboard surfer Ant McColl will face a star-studded field at the Sandy Bay leg of the Hyundai Pro longboard tour this weekend.
McColl, who is sixth in the series standings, will compete in an event that's been bolstered by inclusion in the Australasia longboard qualifying series, drawing 20 international
surfers to the Northland break.
The strong field of surfers will be led by defending event champion and current world No5 Taylor Jensen, an amazing American surfer who is predominantly based in Australia.
Jensen has frequented New Zealand several times before putting on a masterly display of surfing to win several events.
This year Jensen returns along with several of the world's best longboarders to up the stakes and take home part of the US$5000 ($6470) in prize money.
Australian pair, 2009 ASP World Champion Harley Ingleby and 2006 World Champion Josh Constable will be in attendance to give Jensen a run for his money.
Constable was the winner of the first event of the 2011 Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour held at Piha in early January. Hopping the Tasman ditch throughout summer, Constable will be familiar with New Zealand waters. Ingleby is another surfer to have frequented New Zealand and tested the Hyundai Pro longboard tour back in 2008.
Both Constable and Ingleby were part of the Australian team which came second to Peru at the ISA World Surfing Games held in Peru in October last year. The two surfers finished second and third respectively at the event to help their team place second overall.
Other stars on their way to Sandy Bay include Dane Pioli (Aus), Mitch Surman (Aus) and Jarred Neal (Aus).
The event is the first of four on the ASP Australasia Longboard Qualifying Series, theother three being in Australia.
The event will also feature a raft of top New Zealand surfers, including current national champion and ratings leader Thomas Kibblewhite (Auckland).
Kibblewhite is joined by the likes of Dylan Barnfield (Ohope), McColl (Mount), Matt Cockayne (Auckland), Phil Morris (Auckland) and Leroy Rust (Dunedin) as the front runners for the event.
Mount Maunganui's Tay St will host the next round of the New Zealand pro tour from February 19-20.
