Surfing: Thomas Kibblewhite defends national longboard title

Thomas Kibblewhite claimed his second longboarding title in as many years. Photo: Luke Larking / Surfing New Zealand

A year off from competitive surfing didn't seem to hurt Thomas Kibblewhite, as he successfully defended the men's longboard title in the New Zealand Longboard and Stand-up Paddleboard Open at Papamoa Beach on Saturday.

Kibblewhite hadn't competed since claiming the title in 2017, but got back to winning ways quickly. The Aucklander won both his heats, before going on to take out the final in convincing fashion.

Kibblewhite scored over 14 all three times he was in the water, posting 15.33 in the final to claim his third Open title in five years.

Ohope's Dylan Barnfield finished in second place with a final score of 12.67.

Alexis Poulter of Waihi Beach claimed the women's longboard title, after a tough battle in the final. Poulter sealed the victory on her last wave, surfing to a 9.03 point total heat score.

She defeated New Zealand representative Gabi Paul who finished in second ahead of Kiri Binnersley and Sunny Yoshida.

It was Poulter's second final of the open, after competing in the stand-up paddleboard (SUP) final.

Poulter took the runner-up award in the SUP final, with Gisbourne rider Stella Smith proving to be too good for the rest of the field, claiming the title with a 12.40 total score.

Auckland's Ollie Houghton claimed the win in the men's SUP division as well as taking out the King of the Waves race.

The over 40s and 50s longboard divisions were claimed by defending champions Owen Barnes and Mark Hoyle respectively.

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