2010 Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour Event 1 

Surfing New Zealand
Sandy Bay Tutukaka, New Zealand
5 - 7 February 2010

Internationals Dominate Proceedings At Sandy Bay

Day Two of the first event of the 2010 Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour kicked off in small 1.0m waves at Sandy Bay today. Conditions continued to hold out for the event.

The main round of the day was the Open Men’s Quarterfinals. In fun, semi-clean conditions the big crowd on the beach were treated to some great surfing action with every heat being stacked with the best longboarders in the country. In the first heat Dylan Barnfield (Ohope) and Winter (Noosa, AUS) both scored long, high scoring waves progressing to the semifinals.

2009 Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour winner Michael Burling (Hawkes Bay) surfed the fun waves on offer with some powerful turns linking all the way through to the beach. Shane Baxter (Dunedin) also showed good form and the renowned big wave surfer from Otago proved he can mix it up on the longboard as well.

However it was Kirk Beyer (Wellington) that stole the show in the second half of heat two smashing his way into first place. Owen Barnes (Mount Maunganui) surfed a solid heat all the way through and managed to secure himself a spot in the semifinals.

Heat Three saw Josh Constable (Noosa, AUS) and Taylor Jensen (California, USA) absolutely demolish every wave that came their respective ways. Jensen (USA) got some long nose rides while Constable (AUS) rode his 9-footer like it was a shortboard with his fins-free attack. As the event moves into the business end the two internationals will be ones to watch.

Hone Douglas (Ohope) and Jackson Winter (Noosa, AUS) were the stand out surfers of the junior rounds. Douglas (Ohope) won his heat convincingly surfing with a mix of progressive and traditional style. The 14-year-old has emerged as a true contender in the junior ranks and will no doubt be a contender for the title in 2010.

Another highlight from the junior heats was the youngest surfer in the event Brie Ryan (Gisborne). The 8-year-old whose father, Kelly Ryan (Gisborne), is no stranger to the New Zealand longboard competitive scene, surfed some great waves. This was Ryan’s first outing at a Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour event and no doubt we will see his name in future years.

Next up was the women’s quarterfinals. A squall of atrocious weather briefly put a hold on surfing but once it had passed, the women’s action got underway. There were a number of familiar faces in the event including Olympic Gold Medallist windsurfer Barbara Kendall (Auckland)....

 
Hang Loose Pro

ASP 6-Star Prime Men's WQS event
Fernando de Noronha, Brazil
2 - 7 February 2010

Pablo Paulino scores a perfect 10   |  Portuguese

It was a cloudy day but waves improved to 4-6ft in Cacimba do Padre this thursday. The low tide forced another competition break at noon even with Brazilian Pablo Paulino almost scoring a 10 point wave in the last heat of the morning. He scored 9.33 with a steep drop and a stylish deep barrel that gave him an unsurpassed two-wave heat total of 16.93 points.

"I was a little more inside and I managed to did that late drop, than I was very deep in the tube. I’m stoked with that because it was a tough heat with Damien (Hobgood), Gabe (Kling) and Bernardo (Lopes)”, celebrated Paulino who is out of sponsor at the moment. “That’s my fovarite place to compete, I know how to get barrels, so I’ll do my best to win”.

Top seeded 2 in the Hang Loose Pro Contest 2010, North American Damien Hobgood followed Paulino and is in the round 48. That heat was almost postponed but athletes agreeded on going out even in that not so good wave condition.  “It was cool”, said Damien. “I got some good waves and I was there to watch Paulino’s big barrel. I’m happy for we bouth and for the good and strong waves. It’s my first time here and I really like the place. I’m surfing everyday enjoying that amazing nature of the island”.

Another high light was Brazilian Raoni Monteiro. He got two nice right barrels in the meaddle of the beach and posted 16.57 (out of a possible 20). Raoni was a finalist in Fernando de Noronha in the last two years. Won in 2008 and was runner-up in 2009 against Bruno Santos.

“I Love Noronha! That place is amazing and if you are in the right spot you get barrels for sure. I have a special conection to the ocean here”, said Raoni. “The waves were closing out a little but I found two nice barrels. The sandbar is changed from last year but that hollow right is over there, that’s why I used to surf in the meaddle of the beach”.

New faces in the ASP World Tour, North American Brett Simpson and Brazilian Jadson André also debuted on thursday. They won the first two heats of the day. Matt Wilkinson also made his way through round 48. 

“The place is wonderful. The more I come the more I like it. The waves are great, the weather is good, the landscape is amazing and it’s probably the best WQS location. I was eager to compete and fortunately I did well”, declared Brett.

Jadson André was also excited with his performance: “This was my highest score ever here in Noronha (8.17) so I’m really happy. This is an event that everyone waits all year and even with not excellent conditions if you’re lucky you can find a high score. I love this place. I've been here since childhood and want to make a great event. I never passed a battery here before, so I'm very happy".

In another heat, Brazilian Gabriel Medina was leading the heat when also Brazilians Bernardo Miranda and Hizunomê Bettero dimissed him with great tubes. In that same heat tuberider Danilo Costa placed himself in the end of the line.

“I was adrenalized, seeking for barrels specially in the famous Noronha’s left. When I saw that triangle I tried to slow down a little. I went for it trying to stay as deep as possible. At the end everything was alright and I finished in first”, explaned Bernardo.

The Hang Loose Pro Contest 2010 will walk away with U$20.000 and 6.500 points ASP One Ranking 2010.