Jacobs nails national crown | Bay of Plenty Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Bay of Plenty

Anyone questioning Mount Maunganui's status on the national kitesurfing scene need only look at the recent New Zealand championships in Northland.

Young Papamoa professional Marc Jacobs won his first New Zealand open title in style, while three of the four finalists were locals. Brothers Torrin and Kelby Bright finished third and fourth respectively.

Jacobs is heading back to compete in the Tarifa round of the world tour in early July, delighted to have secured the national crown.

"I definitely think doing a few tour stops helped me out no-end, as I've just got far more competition experience from riding with the best guys in the world," Jacobs said.

"I finished second last year and was pretty keen to try to nail down that win this time."

Torrin Bright was also a controversial runner-up in the junior division to Aucklander Brock Cleary, after dominating for much of the final. Bright was in his last year as a junior, having also finished second last year in Christchurch.

Another Mount rider, Tony Whananeke, rode consistently and smoothly all the way through to make the legends' final, finishing second behind Auckland's Gavin Broadbent.

The Bright brothers will continue to train at home before heading to their next planned event in Mackay, North Queensland, in mid-winter.

Later in the year they are heading to New Caledonia for the last stop of the world tour, followed by a new event - the South Pacific Cup - which is open to competitors from all South Pacific Nations, with US$20,000 ($25,010) up for grabs.