CHAMPIONS OF THE 2008 HYUNDAI MALFUNCTION SURFING FESTIVAL CROWNED AT KINGSCLIFF

DANE PIOLI AND CHELSEA WILLIAMS MAKE IT TWO IN A ROW AT THE HYUNDAI MALFUNCTION SURFING FESTIVAL 2008

HAWAII’S KERIEN TAYLOR WINS HONOLUA STAND UP PADDLE BOARD

KINGSCLIFF’S KING OF THE LONGBOARDS RAY GLEAVE WINS KINGSCLIFF ANZ OVER 40s

Dane Pioli, winner 2008 Hyundai Malfunction Surfing Festival Surftech Mens Pro

Chelsea Williams, winner 2008 Hyundai Malfunction Surfing Festival Surf Tech Womens Pro

PHOTOS SUPPLIED BY www.snapperrocks.com.au

The 2008 Hyundai Malfunction Surfing Festival celebrating its 25 year history for the first time at Kingscliff and enjoying the incredibly laid back village atmosphere and excellent surf over the five day event with more than 200 surfers competing from grommets to great grandfathers. 

Unfortunately the swell was dying leading into Sunday’s finals with tricky 2ft waves and occasional bigger sets with slightly onshore bumpy waves on offer.   The Malfunction had previously been held at Coolangatta over the past 24 years but was forced to shift south of the border to a whole new venue after crowd problems at Rainbow Bay. 

Local surfers and businesses have applauded the change and welcomed the Hyundai Malfunction Surfing Festival with open arms and big back slaps.  Apart from the extensive contest program of 13 categories and over 200 competitors, there was a huge social entertainment program with at Domain Casuarina with art/photo exhibitions, Nat Young’s latest book launch, surfing memorabilia auctions, surf vehicle rally, and local longboard legend and musician Lucas Proudfoot and his band Max Judo at the Salt Bar just all added to a fantastic week of surfing and entertainment.

For the second year in a row Dane Pioli (Eschol Park, Wollongong, NSW), 24 years old, and now based at Snapper Rocks (QLD), won the prestigious Surf Tech Mens Professional (WLQS) final on 14 out of 20 points, in a high profile heat featuring Australian longboard champion Harley Ingleby (Coffs Harbour) who finished 2^nd on 13.53 out of 20 points, and former world surfing champion Josh Constable (Noosa) in 3^rd  on 13.33 out of 20 points, and  Delmaney Points Ray Lawrence (Batemans Bay) in 4^th on 8.33 out of 20 points.

So close was the blue ribbon event of the 2008 Hyundai Malfunction Surfing Festival that only decimal points separated from 1^st to 3^rd in deteriorating onshore 2ft waves at Main Beach, Kingscliff.  Josh Constable (Noosa) got off to an early lead with a 7.5 on his first ride.  He quickly backed that up on his second ride with a 5.83 to extend his lead.  Harley Ingleby (Coffs Harbour) managed to overtake Josh coming up to the half way mark with a 6.17 for his first ride and then posted a 6.93 just before the half way make to take the lead.  As he did last year Dane Pioli (Wollongong) waited patiently and with 10 minutes to go overtook his high profile rivals with an 8 point excellent ride to be in contention.  While Josh and Harley struggled to beat their scores, Pioli finished off with a 6 point ride to narrowly win his second year in a row Hyundai Malfunction Surfing Festival Surf Tech Mens Professional (WLQS) final.

Josh Constable after two ASP Australasia Pro Rated Longboard Events, with a win at Noosa and now second at Kingscliff leads the Australian Mens LQS Ratings.  Dane Pioli has now moved into second and Harley Ingleby in third on the Australian Longboard Ratings.

Defending womens champion of the Hyundai Malfunction Surfing Festival, Chelsea Williams, 22 years (Tweed Coast, NSW), won the Surf Tech Womens Professional (WLQS) final.  Australia’s number 1 womens longboard rider and rated 3^rd in the world, did not drop a heat throughout the womens professional division.  In a low scoring final Chelsea posted 9.33 out of 20 points to just out score Brisbane based Rosie Locke on 8.73 out of 20 placing second. Selby Riddle of Rainbow Bay (Qld) on 8 points out of 20 finished third and former Kingscliff girl now based in Byron Bay, Tessa Davidson fourth on 6.9 out of 20 points.

In the Honolua Stand Up Paddle Boards the grand-nephew of Hollywood actress Elizabeth Taylor, Kerien Taylor (Hawaii) now living at Currumbin, won his first SUP final from fellow Currumbin stand up paddle boarder Woody Jack.  Kerien scored 14.33 out of 20 points and Woody Jack 10.44 out of 20 points.  In 3^rd position was sponsor of the Honolua Stand Up Paddle Boards, Guy Walker (Byron Bay), on 9.90 out of 20 points, and Kingscliff’s Ray Gleave featuring in his first stand up paddle board final finished 4^th on 8.83 out of 20 points.

Kingscliff’s King of the Longboards, Ray Gleave qualified for three finals, the only competitor to do so, and won one out of three.  Taking out the ANZ Kingscliff Over 40s final, Ray top scored with an 8 point ride and total score of 15.57 out of 20 points to win from Gold Coast City Life Guard Grant Davies (Southport) on 12.60 out of 20 points. 

Currumbin’s Bianca Anstiss won her first 9ft Amateur Open Womens Division on 8.90 out of 20 points from fellow rival Caloundra’s Monique Keane on 8.67 out of 20 points.

Dukes Longboards Over 50s was won by current Australian Over 50s longboard champion, Peter Becker (Murwillumbah) with 9.74 out of 20 points and claiming his first Hyundai Malfunction Surfing Festival title. Perennial Australian longboard competitor Mike Pimm (Tweed Coast) placed a close second on 9.37 out of 20 points.

Other Winners of the 2008 Hyundai Malfunction Surfing Festival are:

·        9ft Amateur Mens – Ben Williams (Southport, Gold Coast) with 13.17 out of 20 points.

·        Abood Crane Trucks Under 18 Boys – Mitch Surman (Caloundra, Sunshine Coast) with 14.67 out of 20 points

·        Sea Master Fishing Charter/Aussie Couch Under 18 Girls – Georgie Roach (Sunshine Coast) with 10.20 out of 20 points

·        Golden Breed Retro Open – Harley Ingleby (Coffs Harbour) with 12.63 out of 20 points

·        Golden Breed Under 18’s – Mitchell James (Kingscliff, NSW) with 12.76 out of 20 points

·        Golden Breed Old Mal – Justin Healy (Caloundra, Sunshine Coast) with 13.90 out of 20 points.

·        Robert August Longboards Over 60s – Neville Smith (Kingscliff, NSW) with 11.37 out of 20 points

·        Pacific Concrete Pumping Over 65s – Barry “McGoo” McGuigan (Norah Head, NSW) with 14.44 out of 20 points