JOHN / GISBY
Straight out of Gisborne John Gisby was a late bloomer to contest surfing winning his first NZ senior Over 28 title in 1984. Since then the man known as Gis has dominated the more senior divisions of the National Championships with 35 National Titles across the senior to Over 60’s divisions. He has 10 gold medals in the NZ Masters Games and over 60 Gisborne Boardriders titles. He has won the Easter Masters Championships 12 times. In 2003 Gisby’s greatest accolade and one he is so proud of went down when he won the ISA World Masters Championships in the Over 45’s division. From this result, he won Gisborne Sportsperson of the year and was inducted into the Gisborne Sport Hall of Fame. Gisby followed up his form in 2004 winning the Pan Pacific Masters in Australia. On any given day when the surf is co-operating you will still find 64-year-old Gisby out at one of his favourite Gisborne breaks and the fire still burns deep, and there is still talk of adding to that title streak!