Canterbury bodyboarders proved too strong for the West Coasters at the Hot Buttered Challenge 2000, Bodyboard Contest on Saturday. The event attracted bodyboarders from throughout the South Island but in particular a large contingent from the West Coast. Sam Wells of Canterbury emerged the victor in the Open division with Anthony McGill also of Canterbury winning the Under 16 (Groms) Division. Canterbury’s Ben Rees won the Dropknee division 
Conditions were less than ideal but competitors made the most of the clean 2 foot waves at North Beach. With $2000 in prizes from Hot Buttered, Play surf shop, and Professional Surf Coaching competition was intense. 
Aranui Boardriding Academy student ,Cameron Hubbard put in a strong performance to place runner up behind Sam Wells (Cant.). Surprise knockout in the early rounds was Junior National Champ, Andrew Low. Greymouths John Rodden and Kris Martin surfed strongly to make the Open final and placed 3rd and 4th respectively.  
In the Groms (Under 16) Division Canterburys Anthony McGill and Greymouths Shannon Thompson were the standouts through the early rounds. In the final McGill surfed beyond his years to place first with Thompson runner up. Other finalists Josh Blanchfield (Cant.) placed 3rd and Daniel Cleghorn (Cant.) 4th.  
The Dropknee Final was dominated by National Finalist, Ben Rees of Sumner. Rees’ polished performance earned first place ahead of Kris Martin (Grey.) 2nd, Daniel Cleghorn ( Cant.) 3rd, and Alex Luckman (Grey.) 4th. The Dropknee style is where competitors ride with one knee raised as opposed to the traditional prone position. 

Results :- 

Thanks to… 
Mike for his commitment, support and commentary; Christchurch and Timaru Boogers for traveling down; The very young Groms who entered; Nick Summerton for his photography; Chris Watson for designing the poster and basically anyone who helped throughout the day. 

Thanks to the sponsors…  
Canon, Usit Beyond, Rheopaipo, Restaurant Brands, 98 More FM, Easy Scaffold, Kathmandu, R & R Sport, Leckies Meats, Southern Fresh Milk, Rip Curl, Ice Audio, Globe Hotel, Esplanade, Sun & Snow, Pro Design, Hydro Surf, Dunedin Events (DCC) and of course our biggest sponsor JESUS CHRIST! 
 
 
 

The Hot Buttered Challenge 2000, Bodyboard Contest is due to be held this Saturday 25th March at North Beach. The event boasts over $2500 in prizes and will attract some of New Zealand’s top bodyboarders, including National Junior Champ, Andrew Low, Dropknee expert Ben Rees and Canterbury Junior champion Sam Wells. 

Organisers are optimistic that surf conditions will be good on the day. Contest organiser Aaron Lock said, ‘The recent weather patterns have been producing some of the best surfing conditions all year.’ 

The event offers Open, Groms (Under 16) and Dropknee divisions. 

Bodyboarding is one of the worlds fastest growing watersports. Its popularity has overtaken standup surfing in some areas.  
Phone Aaron Lock at 326 7161 for futher info. 
 
 

The following teams will be competing in both teams challenges in Australia and Hawaii.  

If you know of people that would wish to come along on the trip then contact us as we may be able to include another team in the Port Mcquarie Teams Challenge and the Hawaii vs NZ Teams Challenge. 
 
 

Over 50 Bodyboarders from around New Zealand converged on Mount Maunganui for the 3rd event in the National championship circuit this weekend. Competitors were greeted on Saturday morning with a consistent 2-3 foot swell at the main beach. With a cyclone passing out to sea the swell stayed up for the duration of the event and good banks provided good waves for the whole weekend.  

13 year old Rio Cartman from Murawai proved his 2nd placing at the National titles in Mahia this year was no fluke by winning the under 14 division from Wellington’s Zemmic Patuwai, Murawai’s Tom Boyes and Miha Walters respectively.  

Joseph Carrol of Whangarei surfed well using his preferred Dropknee style to comfortably take top honours in the Under 16 division from Wellington’s Danford Parata, Rio Cartman showed he will be a face to watch in the future picking up 3rd spot, Bornson Koperu of Wellington finished 4th.  

The Under 18 final saw some of the best surfing of the weekend. With 2 points out of a possible 30 separating 1st to 4th places. In the end it was Piha boy Jethro Rae who narrowly took 1st place from Auckland’s Hemi Holden. Whangarei’s Jon Diamond finished 3rd while local boy and top seed in the Under 18 division Joseph Rewiti had to settle for 4th place. 

The Dropkee division, which has only been added to the National circuit this year, proved to be very popular with almost as many entries as the Open division. Current National open champion Dwayne Parata showed great wave selection consistently picking off the biggest peeling waves to narrowly take the final from Whangarei’s Jon Diamond and his younger brother Pano Parata. National Dropknee champion Wellington’s Sam Peters had to settle for 4th place after having trouble finding the bigger waves. (Dropknee is where the rider has one knee and one foot on their board, similar to surfboard riding). 

After his win in the Under 18 division Jethro Rae showed today was his day by taking the open final from the current 1 and 2 ranked riders on the New Zealand circuit, Dwayne Parata and Gavin Murdoch who picked up 2nd and 3rd respectively. Commenting after the final he said, “after a slow start I headed to the inside to look for the smaller and better formed waves, I guess it ended up to be the right call today”. It was his first big win on the New Zealand circuit but he has now secured himself a place on the New Zealand team travelling to Australia and Hawaii later this year.