Surfing: Lasch outpoints Kibblewhite to land prize

Auckland's Rick Lasch overcame classy opposition to win the cash at the 31st Annual Schnappa Rock Polar Bear at Sandy Bay.

Lasch outpointed national longboard champion Tom Kibblewhite and local favourite Paxti Scott-Arieta in an action-packed final to win the $1000 cheque and coveted trophy.

The classic was run on Saturday and Sunday and, as always, was hosted by the North Coast Boardriders club.

Scott-Arieta's younger brother Manu picked up two titles after outpointing his brother in the U-18 final and he also won the U-16 title over Whangarei's Zane HIcks.

Entrants ranged in age from 10 to 63 with contestants getting great weather but average surf on Saturday, with showers and awesome surf conditions for the finals on Sunday.

As is traditional, the contestants packed away their boards and headed to a great prizegiving at Schnappa Rock on Sunday afternoon.

Results:

• 
  Open: 1 Rick Lasch (Auckland), 2 Tom Kibblewhite (Orewa), 3 Patxi Scott-Arrieta ( Tutukaka coast), 4 Matt Cockayne (Mangawhai).
• 
  Women: 1 Mischa Davis (Auckland), 2 Claudia Frazer (Piha), 3) Nicola Colson- Koster (Auckland), 4 Shelly Jones (Orewa).
• 
  Under 18: 1 Manu Scott Arrieta ( Tutukaka coast), 2 Patxi Scott Arrieta (Tutukaka Coast)
• 
  Under 16: 1 Manu Scott Arrieta, 2 Zane Hicks (Whangarei),
• 
  Over 40s: 1 Rick Lasch (Auckland) 2 John Gisby (Gisborne).
• 
  Over 50s: 1 John Gisby, 2 Richard Waitzer
• 
  Over 60s: 1 Ken Nicholson (Takapuna), 2 Mal Pullman (Sandy Bay)
• 
  Longboard: 1 Matt Cockayne (Mangawhai), 2 Tom Kibblewhite (Orewa).