“Frothing”, “family” and “fun” summed up a successful surfing event at Makorori Beach.
Froth Fest was an all-day, family-oriented surfing contest held by East Coast Surfriders, formerly known as Kegged, and the weather and surfing conditions at the Creeks break were pivotal to making it a huge success, organisers said.
“When you combine blue skies and clean offshore northwest winds with two-foot, A-frame-shaped waves, it makes building the froth for surfing uber-easy,” contest director and former New Zealand champion surfer Holly Quinn said.
Nearly half of the competitors entered the divisions for mums, Under-8s and U12s, and this meant many local families filled their day with beach and ocean fun, she said.
“Life doesn’t get much better than spending the whole day at the beach with your kids and other families and seeing everyone frothing on catching waves.
“We designed this event around families having fun together in the ocean and that is what we saw on Saturday. We are stoked ... frothing.”
The biggest division of Froth Fest was the U12s and there was a larger-than-expected pool of grommets in the U8 division.
This was “great news for the future of surfing in Tairāwhiti Gisborne”, East Coast Surfriders committee member Phil Matthews said.
‘The number of really young surfers coming through is so exciting. Some of these kids are the children of former Gisborne surfing champions like Holly Quinn, Jay Quinn and Ainsley Gunness.”
East Coast Surfriders was grateful to all those who helped out and supported the event.
Special awards were given to stand-out performers and helpers from Neighbourhood Pizzeria.
Local craftsman Stan Scott made some vintage skateboards from recycled local timber to present to each division winner.
The next and final fun event of the year - the Battle of the Burbs - is being held in early December.
This contest will see surfers from different suburbs, including rural areas, create teams of eight to 12 to compete against each other.
For those interested “in a day of good times with friends and families”, go to Keg_ged on Instagram for more information.
Froth Fest results - Under-8 boys: Owen Te Aho 1, Arlan Quinn 2, Asher Williams 3, Parker Smith 4.
U8 girls: Molly Thomas 1, Bella Borrero 2, Coco O’Leary 3, Anya McCavanna 4.
The Mums: Bre Maude 1, Maria Abercrombie 2, Eve Preus 3, Nicky Lynch 4.
U12 girls: Maddy Smith 1, Eva Summerlee 2, Sibelle McGregor 3, Jemima King 4.
U12 boys: Lenny Quinn 1, Waylon Lynch 2, Jonny Hancock 3, Mac Crichton 4.
U14 boys: Archie Alder 1, Harry Mc Farlane 2, Roy Thomas 3, Toby Smith 4.
U16 boys: Archie Alder 1, Ollie Tong 2, Harry McFarlane 3, James Lalla 4.
U18 boys: Ollie Tong 1, Max Phillips 2, Harry McFarlane 3, Flynn McGregor 4.
U18 girls: Te Waiotu Fairlie 1, Charlotte McDiarmid 2, Bonnie Lynch 3, Brooke Matthews 4, Maddy Smith 5.