ISA KNEEBOARD SURFING WORLD TITLES 2009

In less than 60 days, at Easter, Opunake will again host the ISA Kneeboard Surfing World Titles. Supported by the TSB Community Trust, and a host of local and NZ wide sponsors, the event is the Holy Grail of Kneeboard Surfing.

The contest has been sanctioned by the International Surfing Association, (ISA) and will be administered by Kneeboard Surfing New Zealand (KSNZ), Surfing New Zealand (SNZ) and Opunake Board Riders (OBR).

Over 100 kneelo’s will contest the 2009 event with Opunake growing in estimated numbers by 450-500 when the teams, officials and supporters arrive in the coastal township. Organisers in conjunction with local businesses, The South Taranaki District Council and local iwi have been busy for two years planning and implementing the various tasks that go towards running an event of this stature.

Teams from Australia, France, Puerto Rico, USA, Ireland, Tahiti, England, Japan, Canada, and New Zealand have entered and teams from Brazil and South Africa are expected also. Places in the men’s open are filling fast and SNZ expects that by the cut off date of April 1, all spots in the open and age groups will be filled.

The event will begin on Saturday, 11 April with the teams parading down Tasman Street, Opunake, to an official Haka Powhiri from local schools and kapa haka groups, to be conducted at the Opunake Surf Inn. The teams and their supporters will be welcomed to South Taranaki by local Kaumatua - Mr George Tito, the Mayor of South Taranaki Mr Ross Dunlop and the Opunake township, who organisers expect will turn out en masse for this event.

STOS have got in behind this community event and have funded signs to advertise Opunake and the event for travellers, locals and the visiting Kneeboard Surfers. A full social programme has been planned and organisers expect a festive mood to prevail in the township from 11 April to 18 April when the final prize giving and farewell will be conducted at the Opunake Surf Inn.

Local sign writer, Dennis Lattimer, has been hard at work painting the Mangahume Barn and getting signs and car decals completed to promote the event and Opunake area. Organisers are now appealing to the Opunake township for houses for families from overseas to rent and also to local school, sporting, church and cultural groups who wish to provide food or similar as fundraising ventures, to contact KSNZ through Murray Weir on 027 3766268 or (06) 761 8136.

Profiles of the top surfers who are heading to Opunake will be given in the next media release and event status reports will go out over 94 FM The Edge and More FM before and during the contest.

About the International Surfing Association (ISA)
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), Mike Gerard (USA) and Karin Sierralta (Peru).

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