Gisborne surfer Michael Burling has won the fifth event of the Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour completed at Whangamata on Sunday to become a major tour-title threat with only one event remaining.
The surf at Whangamata remained under 1.0m for the final day with onshore winds making life difficult for New Zealand's best longboarders.
The Whangamata event was a five star rated event with 4,500 in prize money and additional rating points for the competing surfers.
Burling placed second at the previous two events held at Sandy Bay and Christchurch but today took the honours scoring 15.95 out of a possible 20 with his powerful approach to the waves.