“My wheel bearing went and it took the whole day to fix. We tried to get the ferry on the Thursday night but it left too late and it was going to take too long to drive from Picton to Dunedin.
“I am spewing I could not get to the comp. St Clair is so much like Makorori. I love surfing there.”
Gisby was eyeing 36th national title, but will have to wait until 2017.
Since 1984, he has only failed to win at least one senior title at five national surfing championships.
Three surfers in the over-60sOnly three surfers competed in the over-60s final and the winning two-wave total was 8.43 in small and messy conditions.
“I heard it was the lowest winning score ever in that division,” said Gisby. “Heaps of mates texted me asking where I was and saying I could have gone out and fallen off three waves and still won it.”
Around 220 surfers competed over all divisions, about 25 percent less than if it was held in the North Island, said Ben Kennings of Surfing New Zealand.
“Entries are always down by at least 25 percent in the South Island.
“Usually about 250 to 280 people enter, as the North Island holds 84 percent of the surfing population.”
Dunedin hosted a successful event, however.
“Four out of six days we had really good waves and the surfing was exceptional.”
Gisborne Boardriders Club has made a submission for Gisborne to host the competition next year. Surfing New Zealand will make a decision on the venue within the next month.
Full results of nationals
