World Champion Surfer Heading To New Zealand

Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Longboard Champion Taylor Jensen (USA) is heading to New Zealand to contest the Hyundai Tour this week, the event doubling as the first event of the Australasian ASP Longboard Qualifying Series.

The Hyundai Tour event is being held at Sandy Bay, Whangarei from Friday this week and will run through to Waitangi Day on Monday (3 - 6 February).

Jensen confirmed his entry late last week and will travel from California to contest the one-star rated event.

"I just love being in New Zealand and seeing all my friends down there and being able to compete in the tour here and there. Its one of the best run events in the world and it's always a pleasure to head over for it" Jensen said in between packing for the long journey across the Pacific.

Jensen has the ASP Banquet to attend and receive his World Title trophy at the end of February so figured a detour through New Zealand would work well with his travel plans.

He will only be in the country for a five day whirl wind stop taking in the Sandy Bay event before travelling back to his second home of Australia where he has not been in the last three months.

Jensen claimed his world title in Italy during November after finishing runner up in the final event of the year. It is the first time the American surfer has held the title despite his amazing talent on the longboard.

"Not that much has changed really" said Jensen of the win. "I'm a lot busier now. I have a few more commitments than usual but other than that, things are still very much the same. I've managed to secure a few new sponsors so that's been a huge bonus."

Along with Jensen, the event has attracted a number of top longboard and stand up paddleboard surfers including world number 14 ranked Jared Neal (AUS) and number 21 ranked Mitch Surman (AUS). Surman placed runner up at the Sandy Bay event in 2011.

The Sandy Bay event is the first of three on the ASP Australasian LQS with two events remaining at Kingscliff, New South Wales and Perth, Western Australia. The top two surfers on the ASP Australasian LQS gain automatic qualification to compete on the ASP World Longboard Tour.

The Sandy Bay event marks the third event of the Hyundai Tour with Auckland surfer Thomas Kibblewhite (Rodney) having won the first two events including the Hyundai National Championships at Piha two weeks ago.

Kibblewhite finished runner up on the 2011 Hyundai Tour behind Australian Josh Constable. He was also the highest placed Kiwi surfer on the ASP Australasian LQS Series finishing ninth overall.

Kibblewhite will spearhead the New Zealand attack which will include 2010 tour winner Dylan Barnfield (Ohope) and New Zealand representative Matt Cockayne (Auck).

This weekend's event will include a Trans Tasman Challenge between Australia and New Zealand where a team of five surfers from each country will compete in a tag team format event.

As well as the premier Open Men's Division, a further six divisions and a stand up paddleboard race will be held over the long weekend with over 133 surfers heading north for the weekend.

The Women's Division will see the biggest field of surfers yet take to the water with Alexis Poulter (Rag) going into the event as the number one seed. She will have a good challenge with new National Champion Anna Jolly (Piha) and winner of the first event Mischa Davis (Piha).

The Stand Up Paddleboard Division fields a jam-packed field of surfers led by current Hyundai Tour ratings leader Shayne Baxter (Chch) after he claimed his second national title in the division at Piha. Baxter will continue his head-to-head battle with Raglan's Daniel Kereopa who won the first event of the Hyundai Tour at his home break at the start of January.

The stand up paddleboarders will also take to the water in the 'King of the Waves' race where over 20 paddlers navigate their way around a 3.0km course running through the waves. Raglan surfer Armie Armstrong currently leads the series after winning the most recent race to pick up this weekend's 'leaders vest' with Jeremy Stephenson (Auck) in second and Shayne Baxter (Chch) in third.

In the age group divisions Brian Young (Orewa) claimed the first event of the series in the Over 40's while Michael Thomson (Rag) won the Over 50 Men's Division. The Over 60's Division will also be contested as a one off at the event, Paul Browne (Orewa) being the defending champion.

The 2012 Hyundai Tour travels to Raglan, Piha, Sandy Bay and Mount Maunganui before the season concludes at Port Waikato in early March. Overall the Hyundai Tour boasts $20,000 in prize money.

The remaining events for the 2012 Hyundai Tour follow:

Hyundai Tour Event 4, 18-19 February, Mount Maunganui (4-star)
Hyundai Tour Event 5, 2-3 March, Port Waikato (6-star)