Gisborne surfers shine in BoP

File photo of Stella Smith (from the Backdoor GromBash at Manu Bay, Raglan last year). Picture by InTheDrink.

FIVE surfers from Gisborne Boardriders Club contested the New Zealand Longboard and SUP Open at Papamoa Beach over the weekend. The standout Gisborne performer was 14-year-old Stella Smith, who dominated the open women’s stand-up paddleboard division, with a winning score of 16.30 for her two best waves in the final. This win came hot on the heels of Smith’s victory in the open women’s SUP at the national championships at Piha last month.

No junior events were on offer at Papamoa at the weekend so Smith’s only chance to contest a SUP event was to enter the open women’s division. Waves for the event were reasonably contestable at one to two feet and clean on day one, and slightly larger but wind-affected on Sunday.

Gisborne club member Marguerite Vujcich, of Hawke’s Bay, who travels to all Gisborne Boardriders events, competed in two divisions. Vujcich contested the over-50 longboard division alongside the men but was bundled out early. She made up for her age-group loss by making the open women’s longboard final, placing fourth.

Stella Smith’s father, Gary Smith, competed in the open men’s SUP but was eliminated in Round 1, finishing third in his heat.

Fifteen-year-old Brie Ryan was another junior competing in adult company, in the open men’s longboard division. He gained some valuable experience surfing against New Zealand’s top longboarders. He was poised to progress through Round 1 in second place but in the final minute he dropped to third and was eliminated.

Lots of talented localsGisborne surfing development manager Kelly Ryan entered the open logger division, where competitors rode heavy single-fin longboards shaped in the traditional 1960s style. He placed third overall. Ryan was pleased with the way Gisborne club members performed.

“To have three out of five surfers make finals is really encouraging,” he said. “I know there are a lot of talented SUP and longboard surfers locally who could have shaken things up over at the Mount, so it would be great to see a few more making the effort.

“Stella has really put Gisborne, women’s SUP and the sport of SUP on the map lately with her rise in performance. She is also dominant in other areas of surfing and surf lifesaving. I see a great future in kids who are multi-talented board riders. I believe that’s where the sport will grow the most in the very near future.”

Ultimate Waterman one to watchRyan said The Ultimate Waterman was an event to watch out for. It runs from April 1 to 9 in New Zealand.

“The whole event is mobile and could end up in Gisborne, especially given our wave quality at that time of year. The Ultimate Waterman combines a multitude of water craft — including longboard, shortboard and SUP — as local, national and international competitors vie for the title.”