Surf Ski Champion Will Paddle No More
ONE of the most proficient and versatile Canterbury surfers, J. Hughes (Waimairi,) has been forced into semi-re-tirement by a back ailment. He will take no further part in major surf ski events because of this and with his nomination to the Canterbury Surf Life-Saving Association judges' panel it appears unlikely that he will appear regularly in championship swimming events.
This is a serious loss to the competitive side of the movement for Hughes was held in very high esteem at national level, both on surf skis and in swimming events. In 1961 he won the New Zealand surf ski rescue championship at Gisborne and as captain of the Canterbury representative team against Wellington the same season, defeated the then
New Zealand surf race champion, R. Blair, with a brilliant performance which will be long remembered by all who saw it.
When paddle boards became popular, Hughes increased his versatility by mastering their peculiarities and in 1962 finished third in the Canterbury championship. He has been a topline performer and a great credit to his club over a great many years.
Over the years, Hughes has been a member of Waimairi championship winning six and four-man teams and was once a regular member of the surf canoe crew. He has held various positions in his club, including that of instructor.
Lacking the physical proportions of some of his rivals, this slightly built surfer nevertheless has always been a greatly respected opponent in any event. No champion, regardless of reputation, was safe when Hughes was in the field. And the rougher the conditions, the better he appeared to perform. If Hughes can still see his way clear to compete in major surf races, it will at least soften the blow of his withdrawal from ski events. As a swimmer, he is one of the best in Canterbury and when the sea is running high he is virtually unbeatable. He is a surfer in the true traditions of the movement.
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Bibliographic details
Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30631, 23 December 1964, Page 11
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334Surf Ski Champion Will Paddle No More Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30631, 23 December 1964, Page 11
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