HISTORY

Getting invited to the SIC is one of the sports top honors. Next to Pipeline in Hawaii the Island comp is regarded by Bodyboarders as the ultimate event with a long waiting period and waves that can produce epic conditions. Below  Aussie Dave Ballard was a standout during his Island heats from Day 1 and free surf sessions throughout the event history and is still competing today. Photo Stroh

Small wave venue contests were part of the bodyboard contest scene in the early days. The Manly Beach venue  attracted a large spectator base however it rarely produced the quality waves that bodyboarders need to perform. The photo below of Brazillian Marcello and Hawaiian Ben Severson was a typical scene on contest day with wave priority a major winning factor. Here the pair battle over a 1 foot wave. Photo Stroh

In the late 80′s early 90′s Shell Harbour on the South Coast was home to contest dynamo Shane Griffith. Shane was one of the new bred of contest orientated riders around this time that had contest riding down pat. Along with Alex and Nick Gibbs from Manly, Shane was often unbeatable a fact he proved by winning 3 x Aussie Titles. Photo of Shane at Mystics by Stroh

Australia’s onetime premier contest, results  from a newspaper clipping written by Evan Penglis.

Harry Antipala from Kauai in Hawaii must have been stoked to win this USA Bud Tour event in ’91 not only winning the cash but taking down 2 of the sports biggest legends in the one heat in Ben Severson and Mike Stewart must have been  the icing on the cake. photo Beppu.

As a Cronulla kid John Showell eagerly followed in the footsteps of Andrew Lester and soon began making a name for himself with his heavy go for its at Shark Island when it was at its evil best. John was a natural nutter out at Australia’s best known and most infamous bodyboard wave. He would take off deep, power through whiterock dodging ledges and steps as the lips above would be as thick as they were high. Then while most riders would be happy enough to just make the barrel, John would launch some crazy big backflip or air off the section and make it. Total fearless and easily one of the top locals to ever grace this lineup. Right up there with Chaz, Wazz, Lester, Perce, Bal, Nugget and Rissole. This shot of Johnny was taken during a Shark Island Challenge right on dark as the sun was setting behind the highrise. Photo Chris Stroh

Throughout the 80′s and early 90′s next to the World Title competition held at Pipeline before the World Tour was set up and in motion the next prestigious series of events was The Morey Bodyboards National tour held in the US. Throughout the years Mike Stewart had a virtual stranglehold over this circuit  but in ’94 Brazils Guilherme  Tamega is hot on his trail and wins the ’94 Pipe World title as he establishes himself as Stewarts main rival.

In the early days the ground roots level of bodyboarding in ’82 in Oz was a series of low budget comps up and down the coast attracting bodyboarders from near and far. 

From The 91 Morey Boogie Pipe Contest footage of Mikes classic el rollo.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34Zfb85qIAE&feature=related