Gisborne trip a winner for French surfer

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

VISITING French surfer Maxime Le Tallec turned on a polished display of small wave surfing to win the Turanganui Open Waveski Titles here yesterday.

He beat former New Zealand open champion Nigel Bryant, of Napier, who would have been the punter’s pick to dominate on the small, clean Makorori centre break.

But Le Tallec was able to get a little more air, faster turns and variaton in his manoeuvres and drew every ounce of potential out of the waves.

An engineer and kayak instructor at home in Brittany, he is no stranger to waveski competition . . . third in his age group at the world titles in Portugal and a regular semifinalist in French contests.

So there was one piece of vital luggage that had to come with him on a 12-month working holiday in New Zealand with partner Marjorie Le Borgne.

An invitation to compete in Gisborne was a good reason to head east before a South Island leg of their tour. It paid off.

Le Tallec and Bryant won their heats to go straight to the open final.

Gisborne’s Steve Gibbs and Derek Solomon joined them after winning through from the second round. They finished third and fourth in the final.

But Gibbs made no race of it as he worked the small waves in the veteran final.

The two-time world age group champion bagged another title ahead of Chris Vincent, Chris Swales (Auckland) and Dave Conway.

Gisborne will host the NZ open titles at Easter once again and after his taste of success here on Sunday, Le Tallec will be back again for a crack at a national title against the country’s best.