Josh Thickpenny (30), who represents the South Coast Boardriders club in Dunedin, won both the open and senior titles, beating 74 other surfers in the open grade and 29 in the senior grade.
''It felt pretty good to win it. It was one of my goals for a while so it was good to achieve it,'' he said.
Thickpenny had competed in the circuit the previous two years, finishing sixth in the open category last year. Records before 2000 are sketchy and it is unknown if an Otago surfer had won the circuit before him.
The annual circuit began in Westport last October and finished in Kaikoura last month, stopping in Greymouth, Christchurch and Dunedin in between.
Thickpenny made the final in four of the five legs and finished second in two of them. His favourite leg was at St Clair beach in March.
''It was just a really fun weekend, with good waves. Surfers came from up north and it was probably the biggest event of them all.''
His official circuit score was 3258 points, more than 300 points clear of Kaikoura's Levi O'Connor. Thickpenny accumulated 3710 points in the senior category, winning by more than 800 points.
South Coast Boardriders president Mark Stevenson said Thickpenny was a great role model for younger members at the club.
''He's a fantastic surfer, a really consistent one. It's great for the young surfers to see someone compete and win [the South Island circuit]. Interest had dropped off a bit in recent times. Hopefully, with him winning, it will increase again.''
Thickpenny hoped to participate in the 2013-14 circuit beginning in October.
''My aim for the future is to win some of the legs. But overall, I'm just doing it for the love of it. I just want to keep doing it and improving and having fun.''
- Robert van Royen.
