Home	Add URL	Pics & Vids	Shopping

Boardfolio.com >> ASP World Tour News >> World's Best Longboarders At Raglan

Raglan, New Zealand's perfect lefthander (although wind-blown above), is the site for the 12th annual Oxbow World Longboard Championships. Oxbow World Longboard Championships (Nov 7-16) www.oxboweb.com Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) www.aspworldtour.com 2003 World Longboard Tour (WLT) Press Release World's Best Longboarders At Raglan November 7, 2003 (Manu Bay, Raglan, New Zealand) The 12th annual Oxbow World Longboard Championships entered its official waiting period this morning, though competition was postponed due to onshore winds. The prestigious US$50,000 event marks the conclusion of the 2003 World Longboard Tour (WLT) and will be the crowning venue for this year's Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) world longboard champion. Raglan - New Zealand's perfect lefthander at Manu Bay - is an ideal location for the hugely successful Oxbow championships. Unfortunately onshore winds plagued the 3ft (1m) waves on offer this morning, but many competitors still made use of the practice prior to their opening heats. Following the four qualifying competitions earlier this year in Brazil, Portugal, Spain and France - 12 of the 48 participants can still hope to take home the illustrious world crown. The Californians are hot favourites, with three of their finest representatives currently ranked 1st, 2nd and 4th on the ratings - namely newcomer Taylor Jensen, followed by longboard prodigy and 1998 world champion Joel Tudor, and defending three-time (1999, 2001 & '02) winner Colin McPhillips. "I'm super excited," said McPhillips, onsite this morning. "Raglan's one of those places I've always wanted to go to and it's so beautiful here. The wave is a great longboard venue and I've surfed it for the past three days now, so am super excited to get the contest going and finish off the season. Hopefully it will turn out good like the last two years, but however it goes, I've had fun this whole year and I think everyone's stoked to be here." Contrary to previous editions, Hawaii is represented by a single surfer in the top 12 - 1996 world champ and last year's runner-up Bonga Perkins. This situation is rare given the strength of the Hawaiians and their team spirit, which have resulted in five previous world titles. Perkins, who recently won the Converse Hawaiian Open, is particularly fond of lefthanders though, and Raglan offers a wave he's itching to ride. South Africa's Jason Ribbink is in third position, despite a European qualifying season of small surf. He was a worthy runner-up to McPhillips in 2001, and fully intends to make the most of his current position. The Australians have four surfers still within range. Their leader, 2000 world champion Beau Young, is currently ranked 6th. His immaculate style could really make the difference on the long Raglan wave, and fellow countrymen Jye Byrnes, David Simons and Josh Constable will undoubtedly do Australia proud. Among the five nations represented in the top 12, Brazil undeniably boasts the largest contingent. Alex Salazar, 3-time runner-up in the world championship, Phil Rajzman - winner of this year's opening competition - and Marcelo Freitas, the winner of the third leg in San Sebastian and 1999 runner-up. They're ranked 7th, 8th and 9th respectively, and are determined to ward off the ill fortune that has 'til now deprived them of a world title. France has never had so many representatives, with six competitors here in New Zealand. Although this season's podium is now out of reach, French captain Jonathan Larcher - 5th in last year's world rankings and current European leader, and his runner-up Antoine Cardonnet, will lead the French delegation. The young generation, with Timothee Creignout and Antoine Delpero, also show great promise. Finally, two wildcards have been given to New Zealand surfers Kelly Ryan - the national longboard champion - and the formidable Mike Thomson, member of the Raglan surf club, acting as host to the event. Their intimate knowledge of the spot gives them a definite advantage and they could well turn out to be dangerous contenders up against the worlds' best. Meanwhile, a traditional Maori welcoming ceremony was held last night to greet the 2003 Oxbow World Longboard Championships. Contestants and supporters were welcomed on to the marae (Maori fortress) where local elders gave a brief history of the land, ocean and tribes of Raglan. Oxbow representative Thierry Fouchet and three-time world champion Colin McPhillips spoke on behalf of the surfers, thanking the local community for allowing the event to take place at such an amazing location. Another decision will be made tomorrow morning at 7am (local time) as to the day's schedule, with competition expected to commence.

Search Boardfolio.com Surfing Resources Surfing Culture Surfing Posters & Prints Surfing & Beach Calendars Surfing Books Shortboard Videos & DVD Longboard Videos & DVD Boardfolio Poster Store Drive Thru Australia - DVD Poor Specimen Productions presents Drive Thru Australia on DVD. 3 Surfers, 14 days, Australia. Starring Benji Weatherley, Donavon Frankenreiter, Rob Machado, Dean Morrison, Steve Irwin, Margo, Dylan Longbottom, Koby Abberton and Blow Up Kalani Robb. Round three! First they surfed down the coast of California. Then they took Japan by land, air and sea. Now the crew is taking OZ by storm. Donavon, Benji Weatherley, Rob Machado and the winter of 2003. A blowup doll, a couple RVs, a small crew and the long road down under. The Drive Thru Australia. Surfing down the east coast of OZ for 2 weeks, the crew meets up with Dean Morrison, Margo, and friends, score the best waves seen yet on any Drive Thru trip and even find time to chill with the Crocodile Hunter, Steve Irwin. On the road...AGAIN!   Support Your Surf Community Free Ad Space on Boardfolio.com

To add your surf link to Boardfolio.com, drop us a line at boarders@boardfolio.com or click here. If you are interested in a bold listing for your website, click here. Trademark Notice: Websites listed on this page are for informational purposes only. Products or name brands mentioned in this website may be trademarks, registered trademarks, or service marks of their respective holders and are respectfully acknowledged.