Mount Maunganui took advantage of the compressed schedule, leaping out to a commanding lead in the overall points tally with a succession of superb team performances. The Bay of Plenty club won four of the six surf teams races across open, under-19 and under-16 age groups.
Elsewhere, the large contingent of national kayakers came to the fore, too, with Olympian Darryl Fitzgerald pairing with his younger brother Jarrod to win the open men's double ski for Waikanae.
They finished ahead of a cluster of fellow national kayak champions, with Ocean Beach Kiwi's Scott Bicknell and William Wilkins second and Marty McDowell and Todd Grace third.
"It was all about getting off the beach quickly and getting some of the runners home," Jarrod Fitzgerald said. "We pulled down one at the end and it's a pretty good feeling."
World champion kayaker Teneale Hatton had a busy day for her Piha club, winning the open women's board rescue with young star Hannah Williams, leading off the victorious ski relay team ahead of team-mates Brita Camplin and Kirsty Wannan and finishing a close second in the double ski to Mairangi Bay's Rachael Dodwell and Danielle McKenzie.
All the big names made today's open ironman final, with Midway's Cory Taylor favoured to defend his title.