Taking a look back with Gail Patty

My twin Joan and I were born in 1946 to sea lovers Bob and Marge Patty. How lucky we are that the fabulous surfing lifestyle of Gizzy (Gisborne, Aotearoa) is our home town.

Being identical twins, the first part of my story I can only relate to ‘we’ as we automatically shared all our sporting experiences together.

After a short stint as members of the Gisborne Ladies Surf Lifesaving Club 1961/62, based at Roberts Road, the early dunga surfboards appeared.
We got our first boards in 1963. This was when I felt the passion being amongst the waves and the sensation of personal fulfilment in the wonderful ocean environment.

*Photo: Gail and Patty in love with surfing, 1964*

Winter was a different story in the early ‘60s, a time before wetsuits, but it didn’t stop us! We used the spade to scrape the ice off the boards, melt preserving wax on the stove so it’d stick, then off to the beach wearing our grandmother’s long fur coats over our bikinis. Winters were bleak, often frost on the sand. The boys lit fires so we could huddle around after coming back in.

“We learnt to surf by watching guys catching waves and then grabbing their loose boards and having a go while they had the long swim to shore (there were no leg ropes at that time).”

Becoming very unwell and having to have major exploratory stomach surgery was devastating. Recuperating, I worked out how I’d be able to get back into the waves. My dad carried my board into the water and I paddled kneeling. I still had a mass of stitches so I wore a bikini to avoid pulling them out. The guys were horrified at the sight and let me catch the best waves. My passion and confidence helped me to make sure I didn’t fall off the board.

The outcome of the surgery was that I was diagnosed as a Coeliac. In those days, you couldn’t pick gluten free products off the supermarket shelf. This is where my mum was a tower of strength by baking products I could take with me to eat on all-day surfing adventures to remote spots with the guys. During this period, I went on a surfing safari to Oz with mum in tow, preparing my meals.

I am blessed that I was part of the fabulous era of the surfing lifestyle in 1964. There were a few more Gizzy wāhine surfing and we experienced new spots together often. Then the Aussie and Californian invasion started. The Gisborne Boardriders Club was established, and the combined social scene and trips to other towns for contests saw the making of future lifelong friendships with female surfers.

“From its conception, I was involved on the committee of the Club, typing up the newsletter, being on the social committee and making sure the ladies section of contests were handled successfully.”

Our location is such that I could at times, in the summer, get 4 surfs in a day. First light early morning surf, when mum would bike down to the beach and wave us in so we’d get to work on time. A lunch time surf, if it was good, made the boss angry at me returning late and bedraggled. And of course it was straight into the waves after work, and with daylight saving, often some lovely sunset surfs.

I learnt a lot from the Aussie surfers, in particular Bob McTavish when he was shaping boards here. When we happened to be surfing in the same spot he quietly gave me some tips on getting the best out of a wave. This definitely gave me my assertive style of surfing and put me on the road to gaining a NZ Women’s title in 1967.

*Photo: Gail up front, 1966*

By surfing with the guys I had no fear and experienced spots I’d never dream of going to. I also went out in seas I probably shouldn’t have: Our town beaches were closed but Bob said ‘come on Gail’, so out I went. Not far though as a big wall of white water smashed my board onto my mouth and broke some teeth.

The short time I surfed competitively I won every Women’s section of the Gisborne Boardriders events and a number of inter-provincial contests. I came 3rd in the 1964, 1965 and 1966 Nationals and won the event in 1967 in front my home crowd.

From around 1965 saw the start of my travelling, exploring and experiencing other countries' surfing culture.

Between trips to Oz I went to the USA twice, being invited by Californian female surfers who had visited here and stayed with me.
The highlights were surfing alongside and meeting the then world champ, Joyce Hoffman.
*Photo: California surfing, 1971*

The other was a surfing trip to Encinitas on the Baja coast in Mexico with a group of women and one of their mothers as our chaperone.

I had numerous trips to NSW and Queensland staying and surfing with the Oz surfing gals and their families. Some great times and memories! In those days, I got 6 months leave of absence from work, and had no winters and a job to come back to. I did this for 2 years.

One of the most memorable times was in 1967 when Marice Richardson and I went to Oz and met up with our surfing buddies Yvonne Pendergast and Lenore Chase. I bought a 1936 black Chevy car.

“With 4 boards on top and inside packed to the brim we were off on a surfing surfari, working our way from Noosa to Sydney and back. Sleeping on beaches, eating bananas and pineapples from the paddocks when money was short. Great surfs and a lot of fun all the time.”

Until Covid, my close friend Yvonne Pendergast of Byron Bay and I would visit each other most years and get out amongst the waves together. Noosa female surfing legend Lynne Jones made numerous trips to Gizzy in the 60s and we usually caught up when I visited Queensland.

From the 1970s - ‘90s I lived in Western Australia but due to the crazy crowds and attitudes I mostly gave up surfing. However, when I came home to live at the end of 1990 my enthusiasm returned. It was my chance to put back my efforts into surfing, through encouraging girls and women to take up this wonderful sport instead of just being beach bunnies.

I was thrilled to hear about Women on Waves and got involved straight away. What a great feeling seeing/hearing about the enjoyment and achievements some of these gals had since their first attempts.

A major highlight for me was Easter 2009, co-ordinating the celebration of 50 years of modern day surfing and social life in Gizzy. The weather and surf were perfect! 170 guys and gals came from 4 corners of Aoterao, Australia and the USA. I never imagined that we’d be able to relive those wonderful ‘60s times, but we did and had a very memorable reunion.

In January 2015, I helped with another venture, Wahine on Waves, with over 60 women and girls turning up.

In 2019, my desire to have a surfing sculpture created came to fruition and was installed with an associated storyboard. It was only made possible by Amber Dunn teaming up with me to endure a 4 year ride, and Gisborne Art In Public Places Trust who made it their project and fully funded it through grants and donations spearheaded by Kay Crosby.

It tells the history of modern day surfing in Tairawhiti and how we have become NZ’s number one surfing lifestyle district with 3 generations of family enjoying our fabulous waves. It’s erected in the dunes at Roberts Road car park and belongs to the surfing community.
*Photo: Surf sculpture at Roberts Road, Gisborne*

Whenever I’m in the sea, I can’t stop myself going over to some girl struggling to stand up. I wonder after what they thought of that ancient old lady in the water giving them advice.

Most days in the summer, I still get amongst the smaller waves on my 6ft fun fish bodyboard. It’s 2024, and I now have a BOOST surfboard electric fin so this 77+ year old can still enjoy the aroha of catching waves.

Kia Kaha Gail

Photos: Gail Patty and https://adventuresinparadisenz.com/gisborne-surfing

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