Coverage from the 2015 Single Fin Mingle in Christchurch a few weeks back

Words by Ambrose Mcneill

48 gliders and lady sliders from around New Zealand arrived at my home beach in Christchurch, Sumner.

The event began on Friday night with a movie gala at the local theatre. We had free beer and jazz guitar in the theatre before the formalities began. My friend John, gave a karakai in hopes of perfect peelers and offshore wind. I then gave a short welcome before we watched a collection of logular films-some locally made clips and some from the guns around the world.

The contest kicked off Saturday at 8am with a pre heat board weigh in conducted by a classic local salty dog ‘Browny’-he brought his scales down and a whistle and marked off every board and even turned away three boards for not meeting the 8 kg minimum.

The first few rounds were surfed and the quarterfinals decided for Sunday. Saturday night the event party was held at a local bar on the beach in Sumner. Two bands played and things got super wild-it was a ripper of a night.

Dusty heads awoke to pumping waves Sunday and the crew blew up! The ladies were ripping Piha stylist Mischa Davis just edged out her good friend Daisy Thomas from Dunedin ahead of local Nina Young in third and another Dunedin surfer Tash Mattingly in fourth. Then the open went bonkers (all finalist had to skull a Speights pre final).

It was an all local final with Nicholas Todd, an underdog, getting the win with crowd rousingly long nose rides ahead of Nick Sarjaent in second, former national junior champ Luke O’Neil in third, and former national 40s champ Grant Cochrone in 4th.

Prize giving was held at another local bar. Trophies and prizes awarded and then a board draw was held for an amazing new Sadhana log that all the entrants went in to the hat for. A local Matua John T, closed the event how we began on Friday night with a karakai.

Beers drunks, yarns spun and a whole heap of stoke!

(Above) Runner up,Nicholas Sarjaent, hanging for a high 5. Photo Warren Hawke

(Above)  Former national champ, Mischa Davis, showing the flare that lead her to take out the open women’s division. Photo Warren Hawke

(Above) Open winner Nicholas Todd hangs a tight ten in the final. Photo Warren Hawke.

and the winner is…Photo Thomas Owens

(Above) Northland surfers, Tony Baker and John Sutcliffe, stoking on their southern sojourn. Photo Thomas Owens

  (Above) Grant Cochrane, shows his class and experience. Photo Warren Hawke