Two surfers have secured selection into the New Zealand Longboarding Team which  will contest the ISA World Longboard Championships in El Salvador during April.

Gisborne surfer Hannah Kohn claimed the 2024 New Zealand Festival of Longboarding title at Pāpāmoa - Women’s Division, coming out victorious alongside Auckland surfer Matt Newdick who won the Men’s Division.

The final day of the event on Sunday, February 18 was played out in clean 1.0m waves at the Pāpāmoa Domain, conditions offering up the perfect platform for New Zealand’s best longboarders to show their impressive talent.

In the Open Women’s Division, it was Gisborne’s Hannah Kohn who dominated proceedings to win the final with a 15.30 point heat total leaving her opponents requiring a combination of scores to catch her. Hannah’s graceful performance included waves scoring 8.0 and 7.30 points.

“Papamoa turned it on, fun waves, warm water, offshore most of the day and a really good vibe overall and it was good to meet some of the legends of the sport here this weekend with me being new to the scene in this area,” says Hannah.

“In the final, the ocean really provided for me, I lucked into a few that ran and managed to put two scores together."

Gabi Paul from Piha secured a runner-up finish which was enough to see her lead the ratings and gain selection for the New Zealand Longboard Team alongside Hannah.

First time participant Tenaya Richardson finished third in the final after impressing all weekend and New Zealand representative Amilie Wink from Christchurch finished in fourth place

 

Matt Newdick - Open Mens Champion  Photo: Coastal Surf Images.

Matt Newdick was the youngest of the four men’s finalists at 24-years-old and had to work hard for the win after an initial 7.1 point ride when his senior opponent, Thomas Kibblewhite from Whangarei, took the lead with 13.17 points to his name.

However, a cleanly ridden 6.67 point ride late in the final was enough for Matt to sneak past Thomas and take the win with a 13.77 point heat total.

“It was a pretty special weekend away, it’s the people at the event that make it, all the guys that made it happen,” says Matt post final.

“I think every heat that I had was pretty scrappy so it was nice to hear that final score of mine come out over the speaker and for me to take the lead late in the final and eventual win."

Thomas, who hadn’t competed for several years, finished in second place with Dan Croskery from Gisborne finishing in third place and local Mount Maunganui surfer Dan Hooker finishing in fourth place.

Phil Morris from Auckland secured an emphatic win in the Morris Surfboards Over 40 Men’s Division.

He surfed to a 16.73 point heat total, highlighted by a great nose ride into powerful drop knee cutback on his best wave for an 8.50 point score.

Dan Croskery from Gisborne and Thomas Kibblewhite from Whangarei pushed late in the final but came up short with Dan finishing runner up ahead of Thomas in third and local Mount Maunganui surfer Simon Fritchley in fourth.

Local Pāpāmoa surfer Ann Snyder won the Switch Stance Surf and Skate Over 40 Women’s Division.

A pair of five-point rides and some clean footwork had Ann’s cheer squad yelling from the waters edge as she exited victorious.

Taranaki surfer Amaia Sasia finished second in the final with Shelley Jones (Papamoa) in third, Melissa Woods (Papamoa) in fourth and Anita Toi (Orewa) in fifth.

The Pineline Surf Fins Over 50 Men’s Division was claimed with a clutch performance from Pāpāmoa surfer Lee Stacey who scored a 5.07 on his last wave to edge past Mark O’Connor (WGM) by 0.01 points.

Mark had led from start to finish until Stacey rode a long running right for the win. Taranaki surfer Craig Williamson finished in third ahead of Andy Collins (Papamoa) in fourth.

Longboarding stalwart Grant Cochrane (Christchurch) claimed the Tasman Holiday Parks Over 60 Men’s Division with a close win over Christopher Wilson (Orewa) 11.80 vs 11.0 points.

Grant left his best surfing of the weekend until the final. Ray Le Feuvre finished in third place ahead of Paul Browne (Orewa) in fourth.

The Under 18 Divisions were claimed by Lucy Macefield (Chch) in the Neufound Eyewear Under 18 Girls and Archie Whithear (Chch) in the C-Skins Under 18 Boys Division.

The Volkswagen Highest Single Wave Score Award went to Matt Newdick for 9.13 point ride in the semifinals of the Men’s Longboard Division.

Full results from the New Zealand Festival of Longboarding can be viewed here - https://liveheats.com/events/194186.

Generous support from Morris Surfboards, Switch Stance Surf & Skate, Pineline Fins, Tasman Holiday Parks, Alt Surf Works, C-Skins, Neufound Eyewear, Defy Clothing and Emroce Swimwear, D Creative, Four Winds Trust and Papamoa Boardriders have made this event possible.

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