Te Waiotu Fairlie delivered a big wave when it counted to win the open women's longboard at the New Zealand Women's Surf Festival in the Coromandel at the weekend. Photo / Supplied
Te Waiotu Fairlie delivered a big wave when it counted to win the open women's longboard at the New Zealand Women's Surf Festival in the Coromandel at the weekend. Photo / Supplied
Gisborne surfers produced some excellent results among a large field of surfers at the New Zealand Women’s Surf Festival held at Pauanui in the Coromandel.
The festival is the biggest women’s surfing event in the country and an East Coast Surfriders Club spokeswoman described it as “an epic celebration”.
It was the traditional champion's carry for Gisborne's Te Waiotu Fairlie after winning the open women's longboard title at the New Zealand Women's Surf Festival at Pauanu. Photo / Supplied
“Our crew showed up strong with all four of our girls finishing in the top five. That gave us fourth place overall in the club results.
Te Waiotu Fairlie won the open women’s longboard, clinching the win with a seven-point ride with two minutes to go.
It gave her a total of 12.70 out of 20 for her two best waves, heading off Emma Lay (North Coast Boardriders) on 12, with Izzy Evans (Bay Boardriders) third on 9.17 and Willow McBride (Bay Boardriders) fourth on 8.
East Coast Surfriders club member Maddie Smith was second in the U14 girls' division, which featured 30 competitors. Photo / Supplied
Powerful backhand surfing helped Maddie Smith to second in the 30-strong under-14 girls’ division after leading for most of the four-surfer final.
She totalled 10.67, but was pipped by Jade Nias Phillips (Ahipara Boardriders) on 11.33.
Charlotte McDiamond was third with a score of 8 in the U16 girls, continuing her super consistent season. Whangamatā’s Lola Groube won with 12.20 from Alani Morse (Point Boardriders) on 11.67.
Charlotte McDiamond was third in the under-16 girls' final. Photo / Supplied
Abbie Cook got to the semi-finals of the U18 girls’ division.
“It was an epic effort from the crew,” the club spokeswoman said.
Lion Rock Boardriders was top club overall.
After three days of easterly storms and terrible weather during the week, Pauanui turned it on for the weekend - waves in the 1m range with beautiful sunshine and offshore winds. Sunday’s conditions were slightly smaller.
The event is part of national series for the open, junior and longboard divisions.
