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Posted on Wednesday December 30th at 9:16 p.m.
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The event was to be the first of five major events held throughout New Zealand including one new event location (Dunedin) and a change to the National Longboard Championships which is now being held as a separate event.
"Unfortunately the swell around the Bay of Plenty has been in decline since Christmas Day" said Contest Director Ben Kennings. "The waves have barely been surfable for the past couple of days but they may have been contestable. The recent howling offshore winds have put pay to any remote chance of seeing the swell increase enough for the event to take place" added Kennings.
Organisers will now go back to the drawing board and look at what options are available to reschedule the event.
Surfing New Zealand CEO Greg Townsend is disappointed to see the event postponed this weekend.
"Everyone is frustrated that this event won't kick off the summer season of events - the surfers, organisers, sponsors and the local Mount Maunganui surfing community" commented Townsend. "Unfortunately we are at the mercy of Mother Nature and this time round it has not cooperated" added Townsend.
Renowned as one of the sharpest yet fun surfing tours in New Zealand, the Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour was set to kick off in style with all day fun at the beach and great hospitality courtesy of Jacobson Motors in the evening.
Six divisions are contested on the tour - Open Men, Women, Junior Men (under 18), Over 40 and Over 50 and Stand Up Paddleboarding.
The complete calendar of events for the 2010 Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour follows:
Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour Event 1, Mount Maunganui - tbc
Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour Event 2, Sandy Bay - 5th - 7th February
Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour Event 3, Dunedin - 20th - 21st February
Hyundai National Longboard Championships, Whangamata - 6th - 7th March
Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour Event 5, Port Waikato - 26th - 27th March
Entry into remaining events can be completed at www.surfingnz.co.nz under events. Complete the entry process online or download entry forms and send them in. The 2010 tour is expected to receive high entry levels so entrants will need to be in well before the cut off dates to assure themselves a slice of the action.
Past Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour champions are set out below.
Open Men
2006 - Michael Fitzharris (Gis)
2007 - Daniel Kereopa (Rag)
2008 - Daryn Mcbride (Mnt)
2009 - Michael Burling (Gis)
Women
2006 - Pauline Pullman (Sandy Bay)
2007 - Anna Jolly (Piha)
2008 - Daisy Thomas (Chch)
2009 - Daisy Thomas (Chch)
Over 40
2006 - Brendon Young (HBay)
2007 - Michael Thomson (Rag)
2008 - Michael Thomson (Rag)
2009 - Lynden Kennings (WGM)
Over 50
2006 - David Storck (Piha)
2007 - Michael Thomson (Rag)
2008 - Viv Treacy (Whangarei)
2009 - David Storck (Piha)
Junior Men
2006 - Dylan Barnfield (Ohope)/Kirk Beyer (Wgtn)
2007 - Dylan Barnfield (Ohope)
2008 - Sam Guthrie (Mnt)
2009 - Sam Guthrie (Mnt)
Hyundai have been involved with Surfing New Zealand since 2004 and also sponsor the most prestigious event in New Zealand - The Hyundai National Championships.
High resolution action images of the surfing at all events on the Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour will be available to media free of charge upon request.
For more information on the Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour please contact Ben Kennings on 021 2278732 or email benkennings@surfingnz.co.nz. Alternatively, please contact Hyundai Brand Manager, Devyn Cantley on 64 9 573 2050 or dcantley@hyundai.co.nz.
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