Bodyboarding: Fifth for Mackinnon on Gold Coast

Dunedin bodyboarder Ben Mackinnon placed fifth overall in a high-class event on Australia's Gold Coast this month, fresh off winning two New Zealand titles.

Mackinnon was up against some quality competition, and the tricky conditions and onshore winds meant he had to make some tough decisions in the surf.

The Rebel Sport Pro at Duranbah beach on the Gold Coast is a World Tour-recognised event and includes top Australians, and a few other big names from around the world.

Mackinnon originally entered the open men's division of the Australian national titles, which was held in conjunction with the Rebel Sport Pro.

After bowing out early in the open men's event, Mackinnon decided to enter the professional division, in which he had to surf up to eight 20-minute heats to make the finals.

"I was pretty nervous in my first heat and made a few bad tactical decisions.

I got it under control for the Pro Men's and once I started winning a few heats I got into a good rhythm," Mackinnon said.

"Waves were in the head-height size during most of the contest but we were plagued by onshore winds."

Mackinnon said he surfed to the criteria, waiting for the bigger waves before going with the bigger and riskier moves.

"I had been pretty ill over the six weeks leading up to the event, so the result was great after not being in an ideal mental state."

Two weeks before the Australian event, Mackinnon won both the open and senior men's divisions of the Taranaki Pro and secured both the open and senior men's New Zealand tour titles.

Mackinnon said he was unlucky in the semifinals of the Rebel Sport Pro. "I got dislodged on a few big aerials which I needed to progress. If I landed them then I would have been in the finals, but sometimes that's the way things go."

The competition was fierce, and Mackinnon advanced ahead of many professional riders.

He is now preparing for his big event of the season, the Pipeline contest in Hawaii in February 2011. This event is hotly contested on the World Tour, with only the top boarders competing. So far Mackinnon will be the only New Zealand rider competing in the event.

"I'm seeded through a few rounds, which helps in making it to finals, that's for sure. I'm just stoked to be back in it all again after a good five-year break . . .

"It's hard being in a minority sport in New Zealand and every bit of help makes all the difference. To all those who have been there to push me ahead I am always in your debt."