Surfing: World champion heading to New Zealand

World longboard surfing champion Taylor Jensen is heading to New Zealand to compete in this weekend's Hyundai Tour event near Whangarei, which doubles as the first event of the Australasian longboard qualifying series.

The American confirmed his entry late last week and will travel from California to contest the one-star rated event.

"I just love being in New Zealand and seeing all my friends down there and being able to compete in the tour here and there. It's one of the best run events in the world and it's always a pleasure to head over for it'' Jensen said while packing for the long journey across the Pacific.

Jensen is due to attend the Association of Surfing Professionals banquet at the end of February to receive his world title trophy and felt a detour through New Zealand would work well with his travel plans. He will be in the country for only five days before travelling to his second home of Australia.

Jensen claimed his world title in Italy in November after finishing runner up in the final event of the year. It is the first time the American surfer has held the title.

"Not that much has changed, really'' Jensen said of the win. "I'm a lot busier now. I have a few more commitments than usual but, other than that, things are still very much the same. I've managed to secure a few new sponsors so that's been a huge bonus.''

Along with Jensen, this weekend's event has attracted a number of top longboard and stand up paddleboard surfers, including world No 14 Jared Neal and No 21 Mitch Surman, both of Australia. Surman was second at last year's competition at Northland's Sandy Bay.

The Sandy Bay event is the first of three on the ASP Australasian longboard qualifying series, with two events remaining at Kingscliff, New South Wales and Perth. The top two surfers in the series gain automatic qualification to compete on the ASP world longboard tour.

Sandy Bay also marks the third event of the Hyundai Tour with Auckland surfer Thomas Kibblewhite (Rodney) having won the first two events including the national championships at Piha two weeks ago.

Kibblewhite finished runner up on the 2011 Hyundai Tour behind Australian Josh Constable. He was also the highest-placed Kiwi surfer on the ASP Australasian longboard qualifying series, finishing ninth overall.

Kibblewhite will spearhead the New Zealand attack, which will include 2010 tour winner Dylan Barnfield (Ohope) and New Zealand representative Matt Cockayne (Auckland).

This weekend's event will also include a trans-Tasman challenge between Australia and New Zealand, when a team of five surfers from each country will compete in a tag team format event.

As well as the premier open men's division, six other divisions and a stand up paddleboard race will be held over the long weekend with more than 130 surfers competing.

The women's division will see the biggest field of surfers yet take to the water, with Alexis Poulter (Raglan) going into the event as the No 1 seed. She will come up against new national champion Anna Jolly and the winner of the first event Mischa Davis, both from Piha.