HISTORY

Ross Hawke was originally from Maroubra  Beach in Sydney NSW which in the mid 80′s was one of the most competitive areas of bodyboarding in Aus. Hawkey  along with Evan Penglis, Bob Bell,Steve MacKenzie and PJHyland ruled the early contest scene, below The Hellman at The Cabbage Patch. Photo Stroh

 

Phyllis had the exclusive honor of receiving one of  Tom Moreys new creations known as the Boogie Board in the early 70s and earned a reputation on the Northshore of Hawaii for he charging at  big Waimea and Sunset Beach. This image of Phyllis was shot around ’93 after a session at Sunset “Still enjoying the bounce” a few decades later.

Kainoa McGee’s earlier  career was based around being a super competitive bodyboarder who was giving the great Mike Stewart a run for his money in the contest arenas. After winning his share of events Kainoa moved more towards big wave charging and less focus on the coloured singlets. McGee excelled  at big Pipe both prone and dropknee and will be forever remembered for his gutsy death or glory performances. This photo taken early 90′s by Joseph Libby.

 

In the late 80′s young Cronulla Bodyboarder Doug Robson was the first Aussie  to really excel at Suckrock a wave that was made for prone riding and one of the first well known local riders hardcore  wave haunts. Dougy was blasting the biggest airs out of the bowl years before Eppo came onto the scene. Seq below of Dougy el rollo at The Rock by Chris Stroh

Mike Stewart first surfed Pipeline in the 70′s and now 40 odd years down the line no other bodyboarders name comes even close to mind when you mention the Pipeline name. For decades Mike has had a virtual monopoly on the worlds most famous wave and after turning 50 recently nothing looks like changing in the near future.Photo of Mike early 90′s.

 

 

Back in 1993 a few months after Winning the World Title at Pipeline Eppo revealed 2 new moves that would etch his name in Bodyboarding history forever. First came The ARS followed closely by the Backflip below photo Bosko.

Keith Sasaki was responsible for Drop Knee riders utilizing there rails to produce more progressive and radical turns. In the 80′s he was also at the forefront of  taking the sport to the masses with the complete pro act. Photo Bielmann Circa 90′s

This shot of Eppo was taken in 1990 at his flat in Port MacQuarie. This was pre ARS, Double Roll and Backflip. Eppo was at the time the most explosive bodyboarder in OZ and in the coming months he would take his act to the world stage. Photo Stroh.

Macca’s career started in the shorebreak at Maroubra in the mid 80′s after he won his first comp and Aussie Title in the first event he ever entered. In ’97 Macca highlighted his illusterous competitive career with a win at Pipeline in maxed out conditions just pipping Kainoa. It was a fitting win for one of the sports true stars Photo Stroh ’90.