Tongan surfer, Michael Burling, wins NZ event [1]
Wednesday, March 30, 2005 - 09:15. Updated on Saturday, April 12, 2014 - 00:24.
The 4 star TelstraClear Mt Maunganui Longboard Classic was the fourth event of the 2005 SNZ Longboard Circuit. Conditions over the two days on Friday and Saturday tested competitors and judges alike. The contest was put on hold during Friday due to lightning strikes out to sea and flooding.
Semis and finals were held on Saturday in a dropping 1.0m swell. In the Open Men's final Tongan surfer Michael Burling latched onto the best set waves and strung together an excellent display of progressive longboarding. Chasing hard was favourite Michael Fitzharris of Gisborne who scored a perfect 10 in his semi-final heat. But the difficult conditions saw Michael Burling win with 14.07 from Michael Fitzharris with 13.67. Phil Morris last year's SNZ Longboard Circuit winner scoring 12.97 for 3rd placing and in 4th spot young Gisborne longboarder Dan Proctor.
The complete ratings points can be viewed through the longboard link on the SNZ website.
The 5th contest of the longboard circuit is the Gisborne Longboard Classic scheduled for April 16 -17, 2005. (Surfing New Zealand)