World champ . . . again,Gisborne vet Gibbs goes out on top

HOME AND AWAY: Steve Gibbs in action on his home break. Picture by Paul Rickard

STEVE Gibbs is a two-times world champion.

In the toughest conditions of his long competitive career, the 60-year-old Gisborne wave ski surfer lifted the world veteran title at a heavy Atlantic beach break on the Portugal coast, adding it to the grand masters title he won when his home town hosted the world’s best in 2008.

The “absolutely chuffed” arts tutor has just returned from realising a two-year objective to have one last crack at a world title.

But it was not without its moments of doubt. The two veteran Brits, Aussie, American and Kiwi took “a flogging” in conditions as tough as he has been in.

“It was not one of the best surfing experiences. I swallowed a lot of water. It was like Wainui on a shitty day. At one stage I nearly gave up but I had gone there ready for it, I knew the break and I knew what to expect.

“It was all about wave selection. Conditions had been big all week and there was a heavy two-to-six-foot with big lulls.

“You had to pick your waves well. It was a heavy breaking wave and you had to use all your skills to get out through it.”

Organisers decided against elimination heats and put the veteran age groupers out in one five-man final on the last day. Gibbs had used the previous days to free-surf on his own to get his head around the conditions.

He needed two good waves on the day and found a 6.75 and a 4.75 for a winning total of 11.5 out of 20 — two points ahead of an Englishman and another two clear of Australian Col Sugars, who has been prominent through the age groups.

More than 100 wave skiers from 13 countries competed in the world champs held as part of a two-week Ocean Spirit Festival.

The French dominated. With about 40 across the age groups, they won the men’s and women’s open titles, had five of the eight men’s semifinal spots, while two young French surfers took the quinella in the women’s final.

The once-domination of South Africa and Australia has been upstaged by well-coached and skilled French athletes.

“There was some amazing surfing.”

Gibbs said before he left for Portugal that this would be his last worlds after a long competitive career that had taken him to a number of overseas events.

Has bringing home a world trophy changed his mind about the worlds in Spain next year?

“Yes, I’m really chuffed to have won the title. But I’m unlikely to go again unless it is down this way some time. It’s a lot of work and I have other commitments”.

Two world titles. Not a bad way to retire.