Kneeboard Surfing World Titles in Opunake, New Zealand

Jack Beresford · Post by **Jack Beresford** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 7:39 am

Kneeboard Surfing World Titles in Opunake, New Zealand

Important Notice: Qualification and Ranking for New Zealand World Titles

All U.S. Kneeboarders interested in competing in April in the
Kneeboard Surfing World Titles in Opunake, New Zealand must have
entered at least two KSUSA-sponsored events since the last world
titles. This includes the recent contests held at Oceanside and
Ventura and the upcoming contest in Santa Cruz. Note: you need not
have actually surfed in these events - just entered - so those who
missed the rescheduled Oceanside contest but were entered can count
that as one of their two events. Those with special circumstances
may petition the KSUSA executive board (send a PM to Jack Beresford).

A limited number of U.S. Kneeboarders competing in New Zealand will
be ranked to better facilitate the seeding of the heats. Rankings
will be based entirely on the results of the January 2009 KSUSA
Titles in Santa Cruz as it comes just a few months prior to the World Titles.

KSUSA Executive Board

albert · Post by **albert** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 4:16 pm

Jack Beresford wrote:Important Notice: Qualification and Ranking for New Zealand World Titles

A limited number of U.S. Kneeboarders competing in New Zealand will
be ranked to better facilitate the seeding of the heats. Rankings
will be based entirely on the results of the January 2009 KSUSA
Titles in Santa Cruz as it comes just a few months prior to the World Titles.

KSUSA Executive Board

I know I dont have much to do with this, but for those of you that will be coming to NZ with a serious goal of doing well, you will want to re-read what Jack is saying here. Currently, the top 2 seeded surfers from every country will automatically be put into the top 32 round! Of course, this may change as the date draws closer.

To give you an idea, if you imagine 200 kneeboarders attending this event (and believe me, this is a conservative estimate), the number of heats to get to the top 32 would be somewhere between 4 and 7. The value of this is well worth some extra effort to prepare for the January event.

Here in Australia, the race for the top 2 seeds is extremely tight and will be that way till the bendalong event only weeks before we all go to NZ. Last time I looked there were 8 kneelos within striking distance of the top 2 seeds. Imagine that 6 of these guys will have to surf from the bottom up!
Imagine having to surf against two ex-world champions in your first heat

SFKneelo · Post by **SFKneelo** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 8:55 pm

REALLY good point, Albert!

In '99, a few of us showed up without much warning. The trials was only a few heats deep, and those were challenging.

The tempo and challenge only picked up with round 1 of the Opens.

For those of us that participated at Santa Cruz, reflect on the difficulty of top 32 (at least those of us that are mere mortals...)

Thanks for sounding in on that.

ScottMac · Post by **ScottMac** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 9:03 pm

eqKneelo · Post by **eqKneelo** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 12:00 pm

ScottMac wrote:Don't forget that Santa Cruz in January could be a big Crap Shoot.

If a big storm blows in, and it's likely...

You could be spending the whole time in a motel room...

That's super positive, ScottyMac... I'm sure Don and Jack and Mark and Tom and Mel are stoked to have your input while they're working their asses off putting this contest together.

Truth is, it could be the 3 best days of the year and you'll be surfing one of the best waves in the world with 3 other Kneelos.
So far, Santa Cruz has rewarded the KSUSA with great weather, great waves, and great vibes for the past 4 years.
Ask anyone who has been there... they'll tell you it's not to be missed.

skansand · Post by **skansand** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 12:29 pm

im there...ran or shine....last year i had the time of my life....still havnt rode a wave i enjoyed more.... and since then ive rode rincon,blacks and world class points in mexico....nothing beat the lane, or was it PP? hmm maybe it was dunes?

SAnta CRUZ!!!!! ...id be stoked on rainy PLeasure point if the wind wasnt trashing it...

and il be 21 this year so ill be ready to rock the shittee organic beerz at coastline...

..

MWROBERTSON · Post by **MWROBERTSON** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 1:22 pm

Thanks for the heads up on the weather Scotty.

No matter the outcome, some of the better times besides the surfing have been had at the pub and the parties in the hotel room.

A couple of years ago it was me, my bro, Quinn-EQ, Sprocky, Devo all in one suite. Funnier than S_ _ _!

Next door to us was Beresford, Greg Little, Weinbaum etc. Next to them was Jim Putz. Down the way was Shewman, Linn and a host of other trolls. Non stop comedy.

I always look forward to seeing everyone regardless of the outcome. It's like seeing old family again.

MR-

Jon Manss · Post by **Jon Manss** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 4:19 pm

Thanks Mark
It is like seeing old family. I for one have always had a great time surfing in January since I was 14. Of course it does have it's days but usually no more than two or three at a stretch. So far the only rain I see in this forecast is coming from Scotty Mac. Sorry Scott couldn't resist the jab.

Tom Linn · Post by **Tom Linn** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 5:30 pm

One year Shew and I woke up to find a pair of lacy women's panties hung on our doorknob. They were only a little smelly. Of course we hung them on Mark and Danny's doorknob. I don't want to think of what mark and Danny did with them as they never saw the light of day again.

albert · Post by **albert** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 6:32 pm

ScottMac wrote:Don't forget that Santa Cruz in January could be a big Crap Shoot.
If a big storm blows in, and it's likely...
You could be spending the whole time in a motel room...

...and it never goes onshore in New Zealand!

ScottMac · Post by **ScottMac** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 7:03 pm

kidrock · Post by **kidrock** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 7:13 pm

great pix, scotty...hmm, I can just imagine trying to pull a contest in THAT.

SFKneelo · Post by **SFKneelo** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 7:42 pm

As the pendulum is swinging back and forth, might I add the pic of Murray Weir and Richard Smith in the Sentinel. As classic a shot as can describe the possibilities in January.

I spent the next eight months working out a re-aggrevated herniated disk, and crossed the line for a cortizone shot (EQ... I did and am always exploring...)

I still look back on the event fondly, and only wish I could have spent more time with guys like Jamie H. and others that travelled from so far.

Going back to the contest vs. non-contest... to me it's always been about the passion of the sport and the people that share it. Gatherings, contests, one-off little treks... always look forward to it.

Every day is a good one with the thoughts of the next, and just soaking it up while supplies last.

It makes me impossibly optimistic and impossibly hard-to-deal-with at the same time.

I won't be battle-ready by the contest, but I will be there and enjoy every damn moment.

I'm hoping that includes ScottMac, as his views are our norm... surf, have fun.

It's an opportunity. We don't always get them. Enjoy it and reap what you want.

It's a celebration, hosted by passionate folks like you.

Enjoy... compete... or not. Learn at most of our age... grow. Like I wish my bicep would, darn it!

Cheers,
SFK

Hope to be putting another post out there later. I'm back on a 24x7 schedule, and am incredibly tired. That said, back to it.

ScottMac · Post by **ScottMac** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 8:01 pm

Steeno · Post by **Steeno** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 8:55 pm

those pics look like phillip island