Vette carves into women’s open final

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

Gisborne has the chance of another title on the last day of the national surfing championships at Dunedin tomorrow.

Saffi Vette, 21, comfortably reached the final of the open women’s division with a second placing in her Round 1 heat yesterday. She scored 10.50 points (4.75, 5.75) with her two best waves.

Bay Boardriders’ Sophia Brock won the heat with a two-wave total of 12.55 (6.65, 5.90). South Coast Boardriders Rewa Morrison was third, with a score of 3.50.

Vette, representing Gisborne Boardriders Club, will contest Heat 2 of the open women’s quarterfinals, scheduled to start at 11.09am tomorrow. She will be surfing against Pia Rogers (Whangamata Boardriders), Gabi Paul (Lion Rock Boardriders) and Estella Hungerford (North Wai Boardriders, Christchurch).

The semifinals are set to start at 1.36pm and the final, at 3pm, immediately before the open men’s final.

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Gisborne surfing started the week with a landmark victory. On Monday, over-70s competitor John Gisby won his 40th national title, and fellow Gisborne Boardriders members Ross Moodie and Benny Hutchings picked up second and third placings respectively in that division.

Former Gisborne surfer Reuben Woods, now a member of Papamoa Boardriders, won the o40s division and finished third in the o30s final on the same day.

On Tuesday, former New Zealand representative Stella Smith, of Gisborne Boardriders, won the women’s standup paddleboard with a two-wave score of 14.85 (8.35, 6.50), ahead of runner-up Billie Scott (Bay Boardriders), 1.50 points back, after an outstanding tussle.