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MANGAWHAI'S NO.1 NEWSPAPER
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Low tiide challenge in finals of lifeguard longboard contest.jpg "2014 Lifeguard Longboard Nationals Line Up Cropped(1)") The 22nd Annual Lifeguard Longboard Nationals took place at Mangawhai Heads on February 22. Near perfect 1.5m plus waves broke throughout the day – some predicting some of the best conditions ever for the event. Event hosts Mangawhai Heads Volunteer Lifeguard Service Inc (MHVLS) were pleased with the 40-odd surfers/lifeguards who made the annual pilgrimage to their club for the event. “It's great to see this event grow from strength to strength each year," said contest organiser Tony Baker. "This year we had surfers and lifeguards from clubs including Karekare, Bethells, Omaha, Waipu Cove, North Piha, Muriwai, Gisborne, Mount Maunganui and a bevy of our own guards here from Mangawhai Heads.” The early rounds were treated to some special waves, with the Classic (pre-1970 surf craft) and Open Men surfing in the best of it. Past Classic winner Rhys Powell (Omaha) continued his good form showing some great traditional surfing. He, along with Hira Edmonds (Bethells Beach), Jason Harvey (Muriwai) and Tim Gibb (Mangawhai Heads) all progressed to the finals of the division. In the finals, low tide conditions were challenging with many surfers having to swim back to shore to collect their lost boards (no leashes allowed). Tim Gibb (MHVLS) surfed well, riding an old brown Atlas Woods board, aptly named the "Poo Stick". Edmonds also enjoyed riding a borrowed Dunlop classic. Tony Baker (Mangawhai Heads) ended up taking out the division riding a borrowed Atlas Woods. Another division that seems to get bigger each year is the Masters (Over 45 years). Graham Darlow (MHVLS) and Ian Parker (Orewa) both surfed well, along with Peter Jacobs (Mount Maunganui) and John Minogue (Gisborne). In the Final it was Jacobs who took out the division ahead of Darlow in second, Ian Parker (Orewa) in 3rd and Ian Chapman (Auckland) in 4th. The Junior Division saw seven Under 18 surfers compete including three girls. In the early rounds Daniel Hassal (MHVLS) and Mitch McRae (MHVLS) went head to head, along with newcomer Matt Jensen (Waipu). In the final there was less than a point separating first and second with Jensen taking his maiden win in the event, ahead of McRae in second. In the Women's, past champion Jess Costello (MHVLS) put on a stellar performance in her first heat scoring the highest score of the day with a combined, two wave total of 17 out of a possible 20. Fellow local Alana Thrasyvoulou also showed excellent form picking off some great lefts in her semi-final. However it was Tamara McLaren from Karekare who dominated the final taking out first place ahead of Thrasyvoulou in 2nd, Costello in 3rd and young Brenna Bishop (Karekare) placing 4th. |
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