Queen of the Corner: Wāhine ruling the runway
The first week of May saw Wellington get slapped with a once-in-a-decade storm. The kind that turns beachfronts into kelp graveyards and sends wheelie bins cartwheeling down the street. But by Saturday, the clouds had parted and the South Coast had settled just enough to let something far more powerful roll in: a full-blown female takeover.
Open Longboarder Megan Fenton in her element.
Queen of the Corner, an all women’s surf comp run by local legends known as the Gurfers, turned Lyall Bay’s eastern end into a saltwater stage. With support from the Wellington Boardriders, the competition brought together a lineup of wāhine ranging from first-heat rookies to seasoned rail-burying chargers.
The venue? The well renowned “Corner” - a punchy little left-hander that peels along a stretch of reclaimed airport runway. Industrial, iconic, and on this particular Saturday, it was all ours.
Before the first horn blew, there was work to do. The storm had left the beach looking like a shipwreck scene - driftwood, seaweed, and the odd rogue jandal. Cue the clean-up crew. The girls rallied, boards were briefly swapped for brooms and by the time the comp kicked off, the place was tidy and humming.
AWSA Board Member Adriana Bird attempting a manu off her dismount.
Throughout the day, heats cycled through with laughter, cheers, and supporter signs worthy of an exhibition at Te Papa. Points were handed out for skill, style, and pure stoke. One surfer rode switch stance, another competed solely on her dad’s 70’s-style windsurfing board, and there was more than one attempt made at popping a manu on a dismount.
In true Gurfers fashion, the vibe was less “cutthroat contest” and more “epic hangout with a side of shredding.” There was even a pop-up stall checking people for surfer’s ear, because nothing says “community care” like getting your ear canal inspected between heats.
Gen Walker ecstatic about her category win.
By the time the swell started to fade, the energy certainly hadn’t. Prizegiving shifted down the road to Parrotdog, where the crowd rolled in, barely out of their wetsuits, still buzzing. Thanks to a mountain of sponsors, everyone left with something - new gear, vouchers, marble trophies, or just a well-earned beer. It felt more like a wrap party than a podium ceremony.
At its core, the Queen of the Corner wasn’t about who surfed the best. It was about having an event where wāhine of all ages and levels could turn up, paddle out and claim space in the lineup. The Gurfers have been steadily growing Wellington’s women’s surf community for the past few years, and this comp showed just how strong it is. Supportive, stylish, slightly chaotic, and stacked with talent!
In yellow, Chloe Price sharing the stoke with fellow competitors.
Keep an eye out on the Gurfers for future events and meetups!
Long live the Corner Queens
Words by AWSA Board member Adriana Bird, photography by Sophie Macdonald.
