Barnfield Wins Open Mens Longboard Title

Ohope surfer Dylan Barnfield barnstormed his way to a national title today (Sunday 7th March) winning the Open Men’s Division at the Hyundai National Longboard Championships held at Whangamata Beach over the weekend.

The surf remained large for the final day of the event with 2.0m waves hammering the Whangamata Beach as well as the remaining surfers in the event.

For Barnfield, regarded as one of the most talented young longboarders in New Zealand, it was by far the biggest win of his career. The twenty-year-old surfer has won events on the Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour in the past but the added prestige of this event doubling as the National Championships bested all of his previous feats.

"This win is very different to others that I have had, the prestige around the national title is amazing I feel, I am super stoked - this is definitely a good comp to win" said a near overwhelmed Barnfield.

Barnfield posted excellent early rides of 9.65 then an 8.75 (18.40 out of a possible 20 heat total) to put his opponents in serious trouble from the outset.

"I combo'd TK (Thomas Kibblewhite) but he came back with a 9.0 point ride so I sat on him at the end and held out luckily" said Barnfield of how the final panned out. His waves comprised of some big turns as well as long hang tens that were aptly rewarded given the sizable beach break conditions.