HISTORY

         This shot was taken at Manly Beach late 80′s during one of the Pro Comps. Mike was in his prime, he was winning everything and was dominating every aspect of the sport. From media, to contests to new moves and  pushing the limits at Pipe, Mike was bodyboardings number one asset.   You’d be smiling too photo Stroh

At waves like Pipeline bodyboarders can sit deeper and takeoff later. This extra late drop was photographed around Jan 1986. With his fingers still in contact with his board theres still a chance he can pull it off. Did he make it ,your guess is as good as mine but if he doent he’s in for a hell flogging. It was crazy moves and photos like this that proved to the surfing world that the humble bodyboard was a serious wave riding tool and not just a pool toy in the early days.

When Keith Sasaki was touring Australia in the late 80′s a small crew including Pat Caldwell, Jay Reale, Shawnee Oide  along with some Aussies like Ross Hawke , PJ Hyland  and Wingnut hit the South Coast. One day when the waves wernt co operating Keith decided to liven up the lineup by going nude. It gives a whole new meaning to bottom turn. Photo Stroh

Bodyboarding has long been known for being different and breaking traditional boundaries. Check out this air drop advertisement from 84  from Morey Boogie, it  gets your attention.

Port Mac boy, Rick Bannister throughout the 90’s was a familiar face in bodyboarding. Known for his DK skills, deep tube riding in Hawaii and his time as editor of Riptide, Banno was always a standout from the pack. In this shot seen getting DK air at Forster, Rick was keeping in the running with other extroverted characters like Malig’s and Manny Vargas by sporting a full fluro pink hairstyle. At least you couldn’t miss him….Circa late 90s pic Stroh.

Although Chris Won is best known for his standup on a bodyboard riding this shot was snapped at Pipe in January 93. The wave featured in Underground Tapes “Reef Madness” video and it shows Chris getting belted by the lip. Everyone who surfs serious Pipe will experience one of these eventually. Won survived and today he still surfs the Northshore as well as acting in a few Hollywood blockbusters like Into the Blue and Blue Crush.photo Stroh

This shot appeared in an Atunas advertisement early 90′s showing young Gold Coast grommet Michael Crawley on the knee. MC was never sponsored by Atunas but back in those days minor details like that didnt seem to matter as new bodyboard companies jumped on the bandwagon as the sport boomed.

This shot was taken early 80′s showing a very young Mike Stewart in Tom Moreys backyard factory in Hawaii admiring the very first air lubricated hull concept.

Young skinny Nugget, Dave Ballard and Dougy Robson posing in there Matt and Co boardies at Voodoo. The new brand was backed by King Gee and was looking at throwing some much needed dollars into the sport when the company was sold and the brand disappeared in no time at all. pic Stroh