Can’t catch Kibblewhite on the waves

SPY Optics Men's Longboard Division Finalists - Paul Culpan (Auck), Owen Barnes (Mnt), Thomas Kibblewhite (Red Beach), Daryn McBride (Port Waikato). Photo: Col / Surf2Surf.com.

Red Beach surfer Thomas Kibblewhite returned to the winner's podium for the second straight national event on Sunday, winning the SPY Optics Men's Longboard Division of the Barrett Homes New Zealand Longboard and SUP Open at Papamoa Beach.

The surf was fractionally bigger for the final day of the event with a small 0.5m swell and the Bay of Plenty finally drying out to bask in sunshine.

Kibblewhite, who recently won the National Championships, continued his exceptional form posting a 17.2 point heat total in the final. He started with a nine point ride on his first wave and by the end of his second, had a stranglehold on the final that was not to be challenged.

Both Owen Barnes (Mnt) and Paul Culpan (Auck) posted 14 point heat totals but were still left chasing near-perfect rides to catch Kibblewhite, the two surfers finishing second and third respectively. Port Waikato surfer Daryn McBride finished the final in fourth place after becoming wave-starved early on and not being able to catch up.

McBride had earlier claimed the prized title of first place in the Copious Logger Division where he used his precision traditional surfing to trounce his opponents. McBride posted a 15.2 point heat total for the final and in doing so also claimed the ‘Katin best nose ride of the event' award which he mentioned was the prize he wanted most from the weekend.

Paul Culpan claimed a runner up finish to go with his third in the Men's Longboard Division while Kelly Ryan (Gis) finished in third and Thomas Kibblewhite (Auck) finished in fourth.

Auckland's Ollie Houghton took the only double title of the weekend, winning both the Starboard Men's SUP Division and the King of the Waves Race. Houghton snatched victory in the surf narrowly edging out New Plymouth's Kane Rowson who had led from the outset. Rowson ultimately finished in second place with Karlos Aarsen (WGM) finishing in third and Alan Te Moananui (Kaik) in fourth.

The event finished with the King of the Waves Race where Houghton beat his opponents by more than two minutes after completing three laps of the course which went through the line-up. The godfather of the sport Jeremy Stephenson (Auck) came back from injury to place second ahead of Ollie Houghton's Dad, Gavin, in third.

Stella Smith (Gis) asserted her dominance in the Starboard Women's SUP Surf Division with a comprehensive win. The 14-year-old will represent New Zealand at the World Championships at the end of the year where she is expected to challenge the best in the world. Today she finished with a 16.3 point heat total. Renee Davenport (Rag) placed second in the final ahead of Briana Orams (Auck) in third and Georgia Schofield (Auck) in fourth.

In the Makaraka Estate Women's Longboard Division it was Sasha Brownlie (Auck) that stylishly claimed the title over Hannah Kibblewhite (Auck), Eva Petrikova (Mnt) and Marguerite Vujcich (HBay).

Owen Barnes defended his title in the Sticky Johnson Over 40s Longboard while Mark Hoyle (Orewa) claimed the title in the Papamoa Tavern Over 50s Longboard Division.

SPY Optics Men's Longboard Semifinals

Heat 1

Owen Barnes (Mnt), 14.83, 1, Thomas Kibblewhite (Auck), 14.5, 2, Tane Wallis (Piha), 6, 3, Justin Bambery (Auck), 5.73, 4

Heat 2

Daryn McBride (Port Wai), 12.97, 1, Paul Culpan (Auck), 9.27, 2, Zen Wallis (Piha), 9.17, 3, Rupert Newbold (Ocean Beach), 3.77, 4

SPY Optics Men's Longboard Final

Daryn McBride (Port Wai), 15.2, 1, Paul Culpan (Auck), 12.9, 2, Kelly Ryan (Gis), 12, 3, Thomas Kibblewhite (Auck), 11.9, 4

Sticky Johnson Over 40 Longboard Final

Owen Barnes (Mnt), 16.2, 1, Wyn Hoogarbruger (Auck), 12.1, 2, Mal Brady (Mnt), 8.6, 3, David Storck (Piha), 8, 4

Papamoa Tavern Over 50s Division

Mark Hoyle (Orewa), 12.1, 1, Brian Young (Auck), 10.9, 2, David Storck (Auck), 8.47, 3, Mal Brady (Mnt), 7.77, 4

Makaraka Estate Women's Longboard Final

Sasha Brownlie (Auck), 15.8, 1, Hannah Kibblewhite (Red Beach), 11, 2, Eva Petrikova (Mnt), 4.73, 3, Marguerite Vujcich (Hbay), 4.23, 4

Starboard Men's SUP Surf Final

Ollie Houghton (Auck), 13.273, 1, Kane Rowson (Tara), 13, 2, Karlos Aarsen (Whmata), 11.23, 3, Alan Te Moananui (Kaik), 9.03, 4

Starboard Women's SUP Surf Semifinal

Heat 1

Stella Smith (Gis), 12.8, 1, Briana Orams , 6.57, 2, Naiomi Mederios (Whanga), 5.33, 3, Eva Petrikova (Mnt), 4.37, 4

Heat 2

Georgia Schofield (Auck), 9, 1, Renee Davenport (Rag), 6.57, 2, Lucy Te Moananui (Kaik), 6, 3, Penelope Strickland (Auck), 5.17,

Starboard Women's SUP Surf Final

Stella Smith (Gis), 16.3, 1, Renee Davenport (Rag), 8.53, 2, Briana Orams (Auck), 6.47, 3, Georgia Schofield (Auck), 4.47, 4

Starboard SUP King of the Waves

1st – Ollie Houghton (Auck) – 17:04

2nd – Jeremy Stephenson (Auck) – 19:25

3rd – Gavin Houghton (Auck) – 20:26

1st – Penelope Strickland (Auck) – 21:48

2nd – Briana Orams – 24:33

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