HISTORY

Before bodyboards arrived on the scene and took over completely, Mat riding was the choice of many in the Seventies. Cronulla was a haven for alternative surf craft and ideal for Mat riding. The pic below is of  John Shaw charging on a solid day at The Point. Many of the first hardcore  bodyboarders in Australia were former mat riders thanks to George Greenough who pioneered them and created a cult like following.Photo Steve Core.

Mike Stewart gets interviewed in Tracks Surf Magazine in ’91…they ask the question “Could a bodyboarder be the best surfer in the world”. Wilmont snapped Mikes bottom turn at Pipe.

This Elemnophee advertisement would have to be one of the strangest marketing ventures ever when selling bodyboards. Swirlies for everyone. I guess when you have Sean Virtue riding for you you can sell any shit. Thats not to say Elo’s boards are crap, far from it.

Spencer Skipper has the smoothest and cleanest lines in the buisness. A longtime Hawaiian standout here he slides into a typical perfect Oahu barrel as photographer Stafford sat right in the spot to capture all the split second action. The image appeared on the cover of Bodyboarding Magazins in 2002.

Dane “Rat “Randall from Kiama was a talented South Coast bodyboarder throughout the ’90s. Dane had all the Southcoast reefs and secret spots wired but where he  excelled most was his own break, Kiama Wedge. Following in the footsteps of pioneer bodyboarder Karl Fjelsted , Dane found the naturally wedging waves ideal for boosting. It was around the mid 90′s when Danes image ended up on a special edition can of Coca Cola pulling a reverse air float, it was a one off deal but something to show the grand kids. Photo on the Coke can was by Chris Stroh.

Check out Jay Reale in this 1996 Morey advertisement. Jay probably never dreamt back then that he’d actually be selling bodyboards for a living after his pro career wound up at his online website www.ebodyboarding.com

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Dave Shaw was the first proffesional surf photographer in Australia to get right behind bodyboarding. The fact he was a high profile bodyboarder himself at the time made him a natural for the job. Through his first articles in Tracks it gave the sport a voice and direction in Australia. Here Dave takes the drop at Cronulla Point in Nov 86. Picture was by Chris Stroh

Before Mason was break dancing and making videos he rode for Quiksilver bodyboards in the late 90′s. Mason came from Port MacQuarie which has a large variety of rippable dropknee waves, this helps exlains why this area has produced plenty of bodyboarding stars in the past. Heres Mason from the pages of Bodyboarder Magazine demonstrating why he is one of them.

The Bronze Aussie Pro was launched in Australia in 1984 ..where else with a name like Bronzed Aussie. Pictured is Peter Townend the first official standup world tour champion catching the buzz while  ripping on the boog.

The first time I saw this kind of Bodyboarding/body surfing was during the making of Underground Tapes around 1990. It was by Steve “Macca”Mackenzie at Suckrock using a Maccas tray. Got those waves on video in the vault somewhere. It originated at Sandy’s Beach in the early days where pretty much everything else in the sport was first started. This clip will get you amped to give it a go.

http://youtu.be/onOcGod3SuA