Gisbourne surfer Michael Burling (25) won the fifth event of the Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour completed at Whangamata yesterday (Sunday March 15 ) to become a major tour-title threat with only one event remaining.

Michael, who comes from Ha'atafu, Tonga, was unstoppable in the final of the Open Men'’s Division and is now rated third in New Zealand with one event to go.

Due to his Tongan descent, he is ineligible to surf in the National Champs which makes up one of the six events on the Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour. Despite this handicap he sits in third place on the ratings and is now positioned extremely well to make a full on assault for the Tour title.

Michael commented to the 'Longboarding News', ...“The title race is realistically down to three surfers now and I am sitting in third place so I am looking forward to the final event and going for the title. I am super happy to be part of the title race...” commented Burling. ...“If I win the event then I win the Tour so the equation is simple for me....”