Surfing: Mayor surfs into Super Groms title

Far North Mayor Wayne Brown has taken out the top title in his age division in a national masters' surfing contest in Taranaki.

The outspoken mayor took time out between the public meetings over a controversial new rating system to compete in the Fisher and Paykel Easter Masters, part of the TSB Bank New Zealand Surf Festival at the infamous Puniho Rd surfbreak.

Mr Brown took out the Super Grom title for surfers aged 65-69, describing the conditions as "really big and and scary".

The Surf Festival ran from April 6-15 and included a leg of the women's world championship series, taken out by Australian Stephanie Gilmore, and was hosted by the New Plymouth Surfriders Club to mark its 20th anniversary.

Categories in the masters ranged from Micro Grom (30-34) to Surf God (70+).

The bulk of the titles went to Taranaki locals with a smattering of trophies to the Bay of Plenty.

Mr Brown was the only Northlander on the podium and it's a fairly safe bet he was the only mayor.