27th Edition of Hyundai Malfunction Surf Festival Wraps Up at Kingscliff
KINGSCLIFF, New South Wales/Australia (Sunday, March 28, 2010) – THE 27th edition of the Hyundai Malfunction Surf Festival has wrapped up at Kingscliff today, with champions crowned across sixteen divisions.
In easing 3ft right-hand peelers, the unique, 5-day festival came to a close with competitors showcasing true Aloha spirit on the final day of competition.
Reigning ASP Men’s World Longboard champion Harley Ingleby, 26, (Emerald Beach, NSW) claimed the ASP Longboard Qualifying Series (LQS) Men’s title to end Dane Pioli’s (Rainbow Bay, Qld) three-year stranglehold on the division.
The stylish natural foot netting a final-winning combination of a 17.2 (out of a possible 20) to down American Taylor Jensen (Oceanside), Currumbin’s Jackson Close and Peregian’s Josh Constable in the 30-minute final.
Jensen, who won last week’s LQS title at Noosa, took an early lead courtesy of an 8.67 and a 7.43.
But Ingleby hit back. The consummate longboard professional waited almost 15 minutes to net a strong 8.07 ride, before picking off a set wave several minutes later and uting his full bag of longboard tricks to jag a heat-high 9.20.
It was Ingleby’s first professional win since claiming his maiden ASP Men’s World Longboard title in the Maldives last year.
“It’s been a while out of the water from competition so I’m so stoked to get the win,” said Ingleby, who collected $2000 prize money plus 250 rating points for his win.
“I didn’t have the best of starts at Noosa, so it gets my year back on track.
Post final, Ingleby said he was happy to get a win up on Jensen.
“Taylor (Jensen) has been doing so well over here,” said Ingleby.
“He’s so consistent and you know anytime he gets a good wave he’ll make it count.”
Tweed Heads kingpin Chelsea Williams, 24, (Kingscliff,NSW) wiped away the disappointment of finishing second in last year’s event, downing Melissa Combo (Ballina, NSW), Rosie Locke (Cooroy,Qld) and Nava Young (Angourie, NSW) to claim her third LQS women’s title in four years.
The talented goofy foot posted a 7.67 on her second wave, before backing it up with a 6.83 on her very next wave to control the heat to the final siren.
Williams finishing in the numero-uno position on a 14.50 total, with Combo in second (11.33), Locke in third (10.07) and Young in fourth (9.57).
“It was pretty hard out there and you had to pick the right ones to ride,” said Williams, who received $1100 and 250 rating points.
“I didn’t feel like I surfed that great out there, but I must have. I’m stoked”
The Old Mal finalists wound back the clock, putting their pre-1967 longboards to the test.
Oozing old school flair and illustrating the traditional elements of longboarding, Victoria’s Jordie Brown came up trumps, netting a pair of 6′s (6.17 and 6.17) to finish with a two-wave total of 12.34 (out of a possible 20).
The Aboods Crane Trucks under 18 boy’s final lived up to expectation, with finalists throwin’ out some big moves to impress the large crowd that gathered at Kingscliff.
Scotts Head ripper Jack Lynch took line honours, accruing a 12.76 combination to beat Buderim’s Nic Jones, Burleigh Head’s Clinton Guest, Bundaberg’s George Cunningham, Palm Beach’s Lee Cooper and Bundaberg’s Ed Cunningham.
The Shawline Plumbing Retro final was like a time-warp, with Harley Ingleby, Coffs Harbour’s Jared Neal, Coolangatta’s Matt Aldridge and Byron Bay’s Brett Caller carving the Kingscliff surf to shreds on pre 1981 single and twin fin designed boards.
Final scores: Aldridge (15.67), Ingleby (11.00), Caller (10.40) and Neal (9.94).
The Greenline Stand Up Paddle surfing finalists let rip in the afternoon’s deteriorating conditions, busting out some big manoeuvres with the aid of a paddle. Sunshine Coast ace Keahi De Aboitiz (Noosa) did enough to take the win, holding off Burleigh’s James ‘Billy’ Watson and the Lennox Head pairing of Noel Graham and Andy Davies.
The Greenline SUP race was also run. Winners included Danny Shead in the opens and over 40′s, Candice Appelby (Hawaii) in the women’s and Travis Grant (Gold Coast) in the 12’6 division.
The Amateur divisions were just as impressive with Banora Point’s Lisa Nicholson taking out the women’s final and Scotts Heads Jack Lynch grabbing his second victory for the event in the Scales Seafoods 9ft division.
In the age divisions, Currumbin’s Mark McNamara was victorious in the Twin Towns Panel Repairs over 40′s, Kingcliff’s Ray Gleave won the Dukes Longboards over 50′s, while Neville Smith (Brisbane) took out the Robert August Surfboards over 60′s.
Meanwhile, the Pacific Concrete Pumping over 65′s, PCYC under 18 girls and 10’6” mixed division final was an exciting affair with 81-year-old Barry McGuigan (Norah Head) taking out the 65′s, Marty Ferrier (Brisbane) the 10’6” and Cath Watson-Brown (Moffat Beach, Sunshine Coast) the under 18 girls.
The ‘Malfunction’ started off in 1984 as an excuse to get together with like minded surfers. After 27 consecutive years the Malfunction can truly lay claim to being one of the world’s truly iconic surfing events.
For further details please visit malfunction.com.au or phone Sean McKeown on 0414569208
(ASPWORLDTOUR:13904)
Category: All ASP News, ASP Longboard News
