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Story: Lifesaving and surfing

Surf canoe

Image
Surf canoe

In 1933 the four-place surf canoe was developed by Duke Gillies of Dunedin’s St Clair club. It was a cheaper, more seaworthy alternative to the standard surf boat and was soon used by other clubs. This Whanganui canoe team was battling through the surf at the 1975 competitions held at Lyall Bay, Wellington.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, Dominion Post Collection (PA-Group-00685)

Reference: EP/1975/0821/26a

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Nancy Swarbrick, Lifesaving and surfing – Surf lifesaving develops, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/7362/surf-canoe (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Nancy Swarbrick, published 2 March 2009.