The annual Big Queenstown Downwinder, a long-distance event for kiters and windsurfers, was finally held on Saturday after being postponed several times.
The 25 competitors enjoyed blue skies and fresh breezes during the 10km downwind race from Glenorchy to Pigeon Island on Lake Wakatipu, but the strong winds and rough conditions proved challenging.
Thomas Rold, of Queenstown, finished first with a 17sq m kite, ahead of Troy Wyga (Glenorchy) and Gavin Jackson (Dunedin).
Blake Porter, of Dunedin, was fourth home and first junior.
The first male windsurfer was Paul Vilestra (Dunedin) with Simone Jackson (Dunedin) the first female windsurfer. Jackson also won the the Jude Green Memorial Trophy, for her efforts in battling back to compete after major surgery.
