METRONEWS
© New Zealand Broadcasting School 2026

by New Zealand Broadcasting School students

Single Fin Mingle - bringing the aloha spirit to Sumner

Sport

Asha Lyall
SFM sign
Single Fin Mingle welcome sign on a sunny Sumner day.  Asha Lyall/NZBS

Surfing has always been more than just a sport, and the Single Fin Mingle is giving Ōtautahi a taste of the magic.

The unofficial world longboard tour has drawn crowds to Sumner beach for the twelfth year since its beginning in 2015, bringing with it culture, food, and community.

The Mingle is not your typical competition; it is a space for surfers (and supporters) to experience surfing culture, said the founder of SFM Ambrose McNeill.

“At the heart of it, it’s an international longboard surfing competition, but around it we celebrate all of the surrounding cultural elements.”

“This includes music and art, and we use that as a vehicle to bring people from all across the country, and across the world to have a good time and connect. “

Surf high five
Surfer headed into the water at Single Fin Mingle Asha Lyall/NZBS

 

Surfers of all levels take part, riding single-fin boards in a style that focuses more on expression than high-performance displays. 

The result of this is a slower, more fluid approach that reflects the roots of surfing, where style and enjoyment outweigh the pressure to win.

“Sometimes the surfing environment can become quite competitive and sort of aggro at times. I think events like the Single Fin Mingle really promote that aloha spirit and help push those good feelings forward.”

The women’s division was won by French surfer Zoe Grospiron, and the men’s event was won by Australian former world champion Harrison Roach.

But for many attending, it’s what happens on shore that defines the event.

Walking along the esplanade while SFM takes place is an experience unique to the festival.

Sunbum team
The team at SunBum providing free sunblock for all on the esplanade. Asha Lyall/NZBS

Jazz music blends into cheers while the smell of SunBum reminds you to cover up. Tweed suits and jandals dominate the dress code, sending punters back to the 90s.

The four-day event covers film, music, food and style, with awards being given for best dressed.

This year, the best dressed was won by Zach and Angel, a couple from the Gold Coast. They rocked different matching Adidas tracksuits every day, while layering shirts and ties underneath them.

Across all events, beach attendance for the Mingle hit well over 5000, which is impressive considering Friday was hit with poor weather conditions.

McNeill said that Friday was one of the hardest days they’ve had in the twelve years SFM has been running.

Luckily, a beautiful Saturday more than made up for it, ending the 2026 Single Fin Mingle with one last glimpse of summer.