RIDING AN OLYMPIC WAVE: Surfer Saffi Vette is set to join Gisborne’s list of Olympians. Vette and fellow Kiwi Billy Stairmand are pictured holding their “tickets” to the 2024 Olympics, alongside ISA president Fernando Aguerre. Picture by Jersson Barboza
Surfer Saffi Vette is set to join Gisborne’s list of Olympians after provisionally qualifying for the Paris Games at the International Surfing Association (ISA) World Surfing Games in El Salvador yesterday.
Vette was knocked out of the women’s competition in repechage 7 in a low-scoring heat also featuring Peruvian Daniella
Rosas and Brazilian Silvana, but as the top-ranked athlete from Oceania, she earned the provisional qualification, heading off New Zealand’s Paige Hareb who was eliminated in repechage 6.
“I am so stoked. It’s so surreal. It hasn’t really sunk in yet.,” Vette said.
“I have watched the Olympics my whole life so to have qualified and to be in it is just amazing. It’s a dream come true.”
The Olympic surfing competition is being held at the famous Teahupo’o break in Tahiti. Stairmand was the sole Kiwi still alive heading into the penultimate day of the ISA Surfing Games.
