Surfing: Day of good breaks for Mount contestants

Ann Snyder from Mount Maunganui won her first Hyundai Tour win in the Women's Longboard Division at Tay Street on Saturday in what was a memorable event for the local surfers.

In an upset win, Snyder, in her second event of the year, eked out a hard-fought final in the deteriorating conditions.

The Tour Championship was already determined before the final event of the Under-18 Longboard Division with Jordan Griffin (Mount) proving the most consistent performer of the year.

However he failed to make the final at his home break, the first time he has not contested a final this year.

Mount's Josh Taylor dominated the final posting 13.1 points out of 20 to claim his second win of the year. Taylor defeated Paul Moretti (Mimiwhangata) in the final, Moretti finishing in second place ahead of Whakatane surfer Matt Craig, third.

Craig Anderson (Mount) was the only competitor at the event to claim both his division final as well as the Tour Championship. Anderson finished the final with a 12.40 point heat total to win the title which he claimed after his closest rival Guy Rencher (Mount) was eliminated in the semis.

In the final, Anderson defeated Steve Tyro (Raglan) in second place with Brian Moore (Mount) in third.

Phil Griffin (Mount) continued the trend of top performing Mount Maunganui surfers as the fourth local to win their division. Griffin, competing in his only event of the year stole the victory on his final wave that nudged him ahead of overall Tour Champion Mark Hoyle (Orewa) who finished runner-up. David Storck (Piha) finished third in the final.

Gisborne's Daniel Procter claimed his first overall Hyundai Tour title after placing third at the final event, one place ahead of closest rival Ant McColl (Mount), who finished the year runner-up.

The final event of the season was won by Thomas Kibblewhite (Red Beach), his third successive win in a row for 2013.

Kibblewhite, New Zealand's highest internationally ranked surfer, scored a 5.87 point ride (11.27 point heat total) in the last minute to claim his third successive event - a feat never before achieved on the Tour.