Surfing: World series hopes for Dunedin longboarder

It is an important season for Dunedin surfer Leroy Rust as he attempts to break into the world series on his longboard.

Rust (19) is targeting the world qualifying series event off the Northland coast from February 6-9 to get a breakthrough to events in Australia.

"The winner will get travel and accommodation expenses to the Australian qualifying series at Noosa Heads in March," he said.

Rust has worked hard on his techniques this year in order to take the next step towards the world qualifying series.

He is now mixing the traditional side of longboarding with progressive movements that he has adapted from the shorter boards.

"I have new equipment that I can open up to the progressive movements," Rust said.

Aerials are an important part of the short board routine and Rust is now able to use some of these manoeuvres on the long board as well.

"I am trying to combine the traditional and progressive styles to formulate my own routine," he said.

Surfing judges allocate extra points when tricky movements are done successfully.

His other key event this season will be the New Zealand championships at St Clair Beach from January 13-16.

Rust completed one year of a marine science and geography degree at the University of Otago in 2009 but took this year off to sail the South Pacific.

He intends to do part time study next year while working at the family business. Rust grew up in a surfing family and the sport has been in his blood from the start. He is the son of Rod Rust and his mother, Katherine Greer, is the managing director and co-founder of Hydro Surf.

Rust was a promising short board surfer when he was a pupil at Logan Park High School but his life changed when he tore the ligaments in his left knee when surfing at Allans Beach in 2007.

Rust needed reconstruction surgery to repair his knee and has concentrated on the longboard since that time.