Malfunction

Day 5

27^th Edition of Hyundai Malfunction Surf Festival Wraps Up at Kingscliff

(Sunday 28^th March, 2010): THE 27^th 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 executing 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.”

2010 HyundaI Malfunction Champion Harley Ingleby

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.

Day 4

(Saturday 27th March, 2010): IT was ‘Super Saturday’ at the 2010 edition of the Hyundai Malfunction Surf Festival today, with sensational semi-final action at Kingscliff.

In easing 3ft peeling conditions, a mix of old, young, male and female competitors went head-to-head across several divisions in the race for all-important finals berths.

All up, 22 heats were completed on the penultimate day of competition.

The future of Australian longboarding looks bright with competitors in the Aboods Crane Trucks under 18 boys division going to town in the morning’s glassy waves.

Leading the pack was Buderim young gun Nic Jones, who top scored in the division with a combined two-wave total of 15.7, which included an excellent scoring 8.5 and a strong 7.2, to defeat Jack Lynch (Scotts Head 13.5), Ed Cunningham (Bundaberg, 10), Scott Moir (Palm Beach6.5) and Col Elwaine ( NSW, 2.5).

The young Sunshine Coast surfer stole the show from his fellow juniors, blending some stylish footwork with multiple nose rides and strong cutbacks to power through to tomorrow’s finals.

15-year-old Jones said he had a great time in his opening under 18 boy’s heat.

“I was loving it out there,” said Jones.

“The water was warm, the sun was shining and I got a few nice waves. Hopefully I can repeat my performance in tomorrow’s finals.”

Nick Jones

Burleigh Head’s ace Clinton Guest was just as impressive in the opening heat of the under 18 boy’s division, netting a 6.0 and 7.5 to beat Lee Cooper (Maroochydore, George Cunningham (Bundaberg) and Oscar Lalor (Apollo Bay).

When tomorrow’s final kicks off, Guest will face-off with Jones, Lynch and Cooper in a talent-packed affair.

But the Old Mal competitors didn’t let the youngsters show them up, with Victorian Jordie Brown and Evans Head surfer Issac Fields throwing their pre-1967 boards around as if they were new, high performance longboards.

Jordie Brown

The Greenline Stand Up Paddle Surfing semi-finals were tightly fought with entrants lifting their game in the high stakes showdown.

Lennox Head’s Noel Graham and Sunshine Coast star Keahi De Aboitiz were the superior riders on the day, winning their respective semi’s to storm into tomorrow’s finals.

They will be joined by defending division champion James ‘Billy’ Watson (Burleigh) and Andy Davies (Lennox Head), who finished their semis in second place.

The Retro semi-finals were also run today, with defending champion Harley Ingleby (Emerald Beach), Matt Aldridge (Coolangatta), Jared Neal (Coffs Harbour) and Brett Caller all progressing into the final.

Harley Ingleby

Competition will continue tomorrow with finals kicking off at 7.30am and finishing by 3.00pm (NSW EST).

But it’s not all about the surfing. The prestigious, 5-day long surfing festival encompasses a range of lifestyle activities including the Kingscliff Surf Film Festival as well as surf music, fashion pageants, surf vehicle displays, book signings, surf lessons and more.

Day 3

Baby Boomers Blaze on Day Three at Hyundai Malfunction Surf Festival

It was the ‘old boys’ turn at the Hyundai Malfunction Surf Festival today, with the Dukes Longboards over 50’s and the Robert August over 60’s competitors ripping it up at Kingscliff.

In 3-4ft conditions, the baby boomers of the Australian longboard scene promoted aloha spirit in the water, shredding the clean waves on offer with a mix of old-school tradition and new-age moves.

None better was the “King of Kingscliff” Ray Gleave, who blended some stylish nose-riding with a flurry of drop knee cutbacks to breeze through to the semi-finals of the over 50’s divisions.

The stylish natural foot was in great touch from the opening siren, netting a 7.00 and 6.50 to finish with a combined two-wave total of 13.50 to beat Andrew Cottle (Maudsland), Garry Stuart (Tewantin), Mark Molloy (Banora Point) and Peter Bobbermien (NSW).

Ray Gleave

Joining Gleave as Round 1 winners included Sput Keevers (Byron Bay), Mike Pimm (Casuarina) and CJ Newling (North Tumbulgum), who will face-off in tomorrow’s semi-finals.

Neville Smith (Brisbane) continued the charge of the “Old Boys” in Round 1 of the over 60’s division, showing plenty of flair to beat Bob McNeil (Palm Beach), Terry Taylor (Rochedale) and Malcom Brough (NSW) with a pair of 6’s (6.0 and 6.5).

Other over 60 winners included Danny Bond (Blue Bay) and Ronnie Silcock (Bilinga).

Event Organiser Sean McKeown commented that the sport’s elder statesmen illustrated true Aloha spirit on day three of competition.

“There was a friendly, but competitive spirit amongst the elder surfers,” said McKeown.

“They’re all having a good time, but they all still want to win. Hopefully this will continue across the weekend.”

The quarterfinals of the Greenline Stand Up Paddle Surfing and the Shawline Plumbing Retro, plus the opening rounds of the Scales Seafoods 9ft Amateur and the Amateur division were also completed.

The SUP’s were again impressive with Burleigh Head’s ace James “Billy” Watson and Sunshine Coast star Keahi De Aboitiz (Noosa) stealing the show in their respective quarters.

Keahi De Aboitiz

The Lennox Head duo Andy Davies and Noel Graham also scored comfortable quarter-final wins and will join Watson and De Aboitiz in the semi-finals.

In the retros, defending champion Harley Ingleby(Emerald Beach, NSW) is on track for back-to-back wins, storming past Ben Johnson (NSW), Dane Pioli (Rainbow Beach) and Andrew Granthem (NSW) with a two-wave combined total of 14.00, which included a 6.5 and a 7.5, in their quarter-final showdown.

Harley Ingleby

Joining Ingelby in the semis were Issac Field (Evans Head), Jared Neal (Coffs Harbour) and Brett Caller (Byron Bay), who all enjoyed wins this afternoon.

Competition will continue tomorrow at Kingscliff with semi-finals of all divisions scheduled to be completed.

For more info and results visit www.malfunction.com.au

Day 2

SUP AND RETRO RIDERS RULE WAVES ON DAY TWO OF HYUNDAI MALFUNCTION SURF FESTIVAL

Tweed surfer Beau Nixon lays down a big turn enroute to winning his round 1 Greenline stand up paddle surfing Nixon defeated Paul Jackson and Sondra Purser with a 14.00 total.

(Thursday 25^th March, 2010): IT wasn’t just longboarders making waves at the Hyundai Malfunction Surf Festival today, with SUP and retro riders ruling on day two of competition at Kingscliff.

In building 3-4ft conditions, competitors tore into the clean waves on offer, carving up across the Shawline Plumbing Retro, Twin Towns Panel Repairs over 40’s and Greenline Stand Up Paddle (SUP) surfing divisions.

Coffs Harbour ace Jared Neal, 26, showed he couldn’t just ride longboards, ripping it up on a board of a bygone era (pre 1981) to accrue the highest combined heat total (16.00 - out of a possible 20), which included a strong 8.5 and a backup of 7.5, in Round 1 of the talent-packed retro division.

Riding a Mark Richards twin-fin his Dad picked up for $20, Neal unleashed his backhand attack on the reeling right-handers, blending a vertical approach with razor sharp cutbacks to easily beat Justin Holland (11.00, Kingscliff) and Dane Chalk (4.8, Miami).

“They’re always a bit of fun,” he said.

“I’m always riding different types of boards – longboards, single-fins and twinnies, so it doesn’t matter what I’m riding. It was just good to go surfing with just three other surfers in the water.”

Joining Neal in the quarterfinals of the Retro division included reigning ASP Men’s World Longboard champion Harley Ingleby (Emerald Beach), Gold Coast ripper Dane Pioli (Rainbow Bay), Cameron Gleave (Kingscliff), Jordie Brown (Victoria), Brett Caller (Byron Bay), Matt Aldridge (Coolangatta) and Dodger Kremel (USA), who all posted opening round wins.

Retro surfboards come in a variety of shapes mainly with a Single Fin or Twin Fin set ups.

The SUP riders continued to shred on an alternative mode of board to the traditional longboard, launching a surfing-style blitzkrieg in the afternoon’s heats.

Sunshine Coast surfer Woogie Marsh (Peregian Beach) utilized his full arsenal of moves to beat Jackson Close (Currumbin) and Ross Hassum (Burleigh) with one of day’s top combined heat totals (18.00).

The powerful natural foot was on fire from start to finish, netting a 9.25 and an 8.75 to storm through to the quarterfinals of the SUP division.

Fellow Sunshine Coast surfer Keahi De Aboitiz (Noosa) was just as impressive amassing two strong rides (8.5 and 7.5) to power through to quarter-final contention.

Also through to the quarters is Beau Nixon (Tookley, now Tweed Coast), Noel Graham (Lennox Head), Paul Jones (Gold Coast) and Roger Saunders (Mini Water).

The Twin Towns Panel Repairs over 40’s division didn’t go unnoticed, with riders turning the clock on the high performance stakes.

Leading the way was Scott Downing (Wollongong), Brett Keast (Burleigh), Mark McNamara (Currumbin), Glen Cunningham (Bargara) and Nigel Beckham (Currumbin).

Competition will continue tomorrow with the quarterfinals of the Greenline Stand Up Paddle Surfing, plus Round 1 of the Robert August Over 60’s, quarter-finals of the Shawline Plumbing Retro and opening rounds of the Scales Seafoods 9ft Amateur and Amateur Women’s divisions.

Day 1

Longboard Power Echoes through Tweed Coast for Start of 2010 Edition of Hyundai Malfunction Surf Festival

2006 World Longboard Champion Josh Constable: Credit Jake White ASP Australasia

(Wednesday 24^th March, 2010): LONGBOARD power echoed through the Tweed Coast today, with the world’s best carving, walking and hanging 10 through the opening day of the Hyundai Malfunction Surf Festival at Kingscliff.

The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Australasia sanctioned event, which has attracted over 250 entries from across the globe, got underway with the opening heats of the ASP Longboard Qualifying Series (LQS) men's and women's Pros in clean 3ft peeling conditions.

Chelsea Williams: Credit Jake White ASP Australasia

US sensation Taylor Jensen, 26, (Oceanside, California) is on track for back-to-back ASP LQS titles after storming through to semi-final contention after a commanding Round 2 win over reigning ASP Men’s World Longboard champion Harley Ingleby (Emerald Beach, Aus).

Jensen, who came into the event fresh from winning the LQS men’s title at Noosa at the weekend, was in top gear from the start of the heat, powering to the lead with a super strong 9.00 on his opening ride.

The young American continued to throw heat in the 30-minute exchange, nailing a 8.17 on his next wave to power through to the next round with a 17.17 (out of a possible 10) two-wave combined total.

“It feels good to have had a great start to the event after winning the Noosa event,” said Jensen.

“I got second at this event last year, so I really want to go one better. The waves at home are quite similar to today’s conditions, so hopefully they’ll stay the same for the rest of the week.”

Taylor Jensen: Credit Jake White ASP Australasia

Ingleby finished in second with a 15.50 total, with Byron Bay’s Ben Dickens (11.70) in third and Coolangatta’s Matt Aldridge in fourth (10.77).

Joining Jensen in the semi-finals was Gold Coast ace and reigning event champion Dane Pioli (Rainbow Bay, Qld), who made a perfect start to his quest for a fourth consecutive LQS men’s title with a strong Round 2 win.

Pioli had to fight hard for the win, edging out the Sunshine Coat duo of Harrison Roach (Noosa, Qld) and Mitch Surman (Maroochydore, Qld) with a combined two-wave score of 14.17, which included a strong 8.00 and a backup of 6.17.

26- year-old Pioli created surfing history at last year’s surfing festival by winning his third consecutive men’s final from Jensen in one of the most exciting finals ever seen at the Malfunction.

Harrison progressing into the semi’s behind Pioli with a 13.84 total.

Other Round 2 winners included former ASP Men’s World Longboard champion Josh Constable (Coolum, Qld) and Jared Neal (Coffs Harbour, NSW).

The women’s action was just as intense as their male counterparts, with the world’s hottest female longboarders going head-to-head for an all-important final berth.

Both Round 1 and semi-final heats were completed, with only four surfers remaining in the division.

Day two action will kick off at 8am (NSW EST) tomorrow morning with the opening round of the Shawline Retro division.

In all, 16 divisions have been included in this year’s festival, which features competition suitable for a range of abilities from family to elite level.

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