Iain Buchanan has become the first New Zealander to win a masters world surfing title.
He collected the major spoils yesterday in the Association of Surfing Professionals grand masters over-50 division at Arpoador, Rio de Janeiro, after beating Australia's defending champion and former world champion Wayne Bartholomew in a tight final.
"It's a pretty awesome feeling. My waves today played out. I knew if I got past Shaun [Tomson], I had a chance," Buchanan said of a quarter-final where he beat the South African by 9.05 to 8.60 points. He then eliminated another Australian, Glen Winton, 11.80 to10.0 before outscoring Bartholomew by 8.75 to 8.35 in the final.
Buchanan, who is now a fulltime judge on the ASP World Tour, was reserved when considering his plans to return next year to defend his title.
"I'm hoping they'll ask me to judge [next year]," he said. "That's what I was originally going to do here this year. I was talked into surfing, and I'm glad I did. I'm happy to get the spot I did, but there will be other guys that qualify next year, and I'd love to judge."
