World Kneeboard Surfing Titles Return to Opunake After Ten Years

Source: Ben Kennings –Surfing New Zealand
-www.surfingnz.co.nz

Press release sent on June 8th, 2008

Kneeboard Surfing New Zealand (KSNZ) has announced that the next World Kneeboard Surfing Titles would be held in Opunake, Taranaki from 11th April thru 18 April 2009.

It will be ten years since the titles were last held in the coastal surfing town.
KSNZ’s executive has been planning this event in conjunction with Surfing New Zealand (SNZ) since August of 2007.

Based in South Taranaki, the event will attract the top kneeboard surfers from around the globe. Organisers expect competitor numbers to be in excess of 150 surfers. Add to this coaches, managers and family support crew, and the number of event related visitors to the South Taranaki region, could top 450.

All finalists from the 2007 World Titles at Santa Cruz have indicated they will be attending, which includes current World Champion Gavin Coleman – Australia, Barry Baker – USA, Matt Gallagher – Australia and Baden Smith – Australia, all who competed here ten years ago.

The organisers are also planning a week of social activities for all visitors to interact with the locals and show the same hospitality that made the 1999 event a success.

Accommodation is already being snapped up. When entries officially open in September, KSNZ expect the rush of interest to be high. An official website has been launched at http://www.kneeboardsurfingworldtitles.com and already the main questions being asked are about accommodation and the contest venues.

Kneeboard surfers from Australia, Puerto Rico, USA, England, Ireland, South Africa, Tahiti, Brazil, Canada, France, Spain and New Zealand have indicated they will be arriving to take on the waves of the South Taranaki region.

Australia will go into this contest as the number one seeded country. With a large number of entrants coming from across the ditch, our nearest neighbour will definitely be the country to beat. Therefore, contest organisers are calling on all Kiwi kneeboard surfers to ensure they enter early and not miss out on this opportunity to rekindle traditional Trans-Tasman rivalries.

In addition to the Open division, which will carry prize money for the finalists, all contestants compete for trophies and sponsor related product in their respective age groups. Up to ten divisions will be catered for including an elite Women’s Open.

Organisers believe The 2009 World Kneeboard Surfing Titles will be a huge success and the most successful world event to date.
For further information regarding the 2009 World Kneeboard Surfing Titles, please contact Contest Director Murray Weir – 0273 766 268

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About International Surfing Association
The International Surfing Association (ISA) is recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as the World Governing Authority for surfing, bodyboarding and surfriding. It was originally founded as the International Surfing Federation in 1964 and has been running world championships since 1964 and the Junior World Championships since 1980. 

ISA membership includes the surfing National Governing Bodies (NGBs) of over 50 countries on six continents. Its headquarters are located in San Diego, California. It is presided by Fernando Aguerre, first elected in 1994 in Rio, and re-elected six times since.  The ISA's four Vice Presidents are Alan Atkins (Australia), Robin de Kock (South Africa), Maile Aguerre (Hawaii) and Mike Gerard (USA).

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