Olympic Swimmer Set To Challenge Top Longboarders at Whangamata

Olympic swimmer Moss Burmester will trade the pool for the ocean this weekend as he competes in the Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour at Whangamata.

He’ll be competing alongside the finest longboard surfers in New Zealand who are eager to bag major ratings points, this event being the first of two five-star events to end the season.

The Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour is nearing its season ending event at Port Waikato (27th – 28th March) and the Whangamata leg represents a prime opportunity for the top surfers to stake a claim for series title.

Olympic swimmer Moss Burmester regards Whangamata as one of his favourite places in the country. The Olympic swimmer will compete in this weekend’s event despite by his own admission thinking his time in the event may be short lived.

“Whangamata is where I learnt to surf” commented Burmester. “My family has had a bach there for twenty years so whenever we go down there I surf.”
 

Burmester generally surfs on a shortboard but will make the transition to the longboard for this weekends Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour event. He suggests there are “slight differences” between swimming and surfing but he is confident that he will be the fastest paddler in the water come Saturday.

Thomas Kibblewhite (Auck) jumped to the ratings lead after the most recent event held at Christchurch where he placed second to American sensation Taylor Jensen. Kibblewhite leap-frogged previous ratings leader Daniel Proctor (Gis) who was absent from the event.

However it is no secret that Kibblewhite has not transformed his excellent consistent form into a win over the past three years.

In 2009 Kibblewhite has secured a second, two thirds and a fourth at the four events contested to date. He knows that he has to find at least one event win this year to significantly increase his chances of claiming the Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour.

“If I can come away with the win at Whanga I will be set up well for the final event and have a good chance at winning the Tour” commented Kibblewhite.
  Now at the top of the ratings, Kibblewhite’s approach to the event and his heats has not altered in terms strategy. “I have got to stay consistent and beat Daniel [Proctor] at each of the next two events to stay ahead of him. That is my plan. In fact I need to make sure I beat all the top guys for that matter.”

Kibblewhite is comfortable competing in all conditions and the small surf this weekend may just bring out the superior competitor in him. “Personally I would like to see the surf bigger but I am a better competitor in the small stuff. Everyone has to surf the same waves so it doesn’t bother me what the conditions are like” commented Kibblewhite.

Number two seed Daniel Proctor has had an up and down season. He bombed out of the first event of the year staged at Mount Maunganui before storming back to win the Hyundai National Championships presented by Quiksilver and the Sandy Bay leg of the Tour in quick succession to take the ratings lead. However, due to attending the Kapa Haka Nationals, Proctor missed the fourth event held at Christchurch so needs to make the final two events count by locking in high placings.

Realistically the 2009 title race will come down to the top three surfers on the tour. Third place is currently filled by Dylan Barnfield (Ohope). Barnfield won the first event of the year but has failed to drive home his early advantage. He has been eliminated in the semifinals of the past two events placing fifth and will need to at least make the final of the Whangamata event if he is to be a serious contender come the last event in two weeks time.

Current women’s ratings leader Daisy Thomas (Chch) will be absent from this weekend’s event leaving the door open for her competitors to pick up their first win of the season. Raglan surfer Belinda Goodwin could be the dark horse of the event while Shereen Lobb (Port Wai) goes into the event as the top seed.

Sam Guthrie will want to capitalise on his great start to the year. After winning three of the first four events of the year Guthrie can seal the Tour title with a win this weekend making his points tally insurmountable for his competitors.

Dunedin surfer Leroy Rust will be looking for his first event win of the year as will the likes of Rick Williamson (Ohope), Sam Hawke (Chch) and Eli Barnfield (Ohope) who round out the top five surfers.

Current ratings leaders in the senior divisions Whangamata’s Lynden Kennings (Over 40s) and Te Puke’s Barry Watkins (Over 50s) have both confirmed they will be attending the event in a bid to retain the top spot in their respective divisions.