Barrett Homes NZ Longboard and SUP Open Draws Attention to Papamoa This Weekend
For immediate release
16th February 2017
From: Surfing New Zealand
Sport: Surfing
Event: 2017 Barrett Homes New Zealand Longboard and SUP Open
Location: Papamoa Beach, Bay of Plenty
Event Info: Surfing New Zealand #NZLO2017
Barrett Homes NZ Longboard and SUP Open Draws Attention to Papamoa This Weekend
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 on Saturday and Sunday (18-19 February).
Top competitors from around the country are expected to compete over the two days. Earlier predictions of a 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. The Piha event was held only a couple of weeks after he returned to the water so his continued rehabilitation will see performance levels rise again.
Kibblewhite will also contest the Copious Logger Division where he will meet the likes of ex-local Daryn McBride who now resides at Port Waikato and local 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 (Auck) 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 provides 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.
Action will take place at Papamoa Domain from 8am – 4pm daily on Saturdayand Sunday. The Starboard King of the Waves Race will takes place on Sunday.
Please see below for past winners of the Barrett Homes New Zealand Longboard and SUP Open.
Men’s Longboard Division
2014 – Thomas Kibblewhite (Red Beach)
2015 – Owen Barnes (Mnt)
2016 – Glen Johnson (Auck)
Men’s Stand Up Paddleboard Division
2014 – Shayne Baxter (Chch)
2015 – Braedon Williams (WGM)
2016 – Shane Murrell (Auck)
Women’s Longboard Division
2014 – Mischa Davis (Piha)
2015 – Alexis Poulter (Waihi Bch)
2016 – Gabi Paul (Piha)
Women’s Stand Up Paddleboard Division
2014 – Annabel Anderson (Wanaka)
2015 – Alexis Poulter (Waihi Bch)
2016 – Stella Smith (Gis)
Over 40’s Longboard Division
2014 – Daryn McBride (Port Waikato)
2015 – Owen Barnes (Mnt)
2016 – Owen Barnes (Mnt)
Over 50’s Longboard Division
2014 – Grant Cochrane (Chch)
2015 – N/A
2016 – Jeremy Williams (Mnt)
King of the Waves SUP Race
2014 – Armie Armstrong (Rag)
2015 – Armie Armstrong (Rag)
2016 – Ollie Houghton (Auck)
Further Information
For further information on the 2017 Barrett Homes New Zealand Longboard and SUP Open please contact Surfing New Zealand’s Ben Kennings on 021 2278732 or email benkennings@surfingnz.co.nz.
Imagery
High resolution action images of the surfing at the event will be available to media free of charge courtesy of Surf2Surf.com.
Event Hotline
The Surfing New Zealand event hotline is 0211134506. This will be updated daily at approximately 7am with venue, divisions contested and conditions for the day.
Partners
Generous support from Barrett Homes, Grassroots Foundation, Sky Optics, Sticky Johnson, Copious, Something to Crow About, Wine2U, Starboard, Waterman Store, Katin, Surf2Surf.com and the Papamoa Tavern have made this event possible.
Follow the event
Follow the action via all social media platforms – @surfingnz. Follow the event hashtag – #NZLO2017.
Surfing New Zealand are proudly partnered by
Sport NZ
SunSmart
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