HISTORY

Dr. 360″ had a remarkable ride. Nicknamed for the spin he originated on the waves, Joe Wolfson of Manhattan Beach was a pioneer in the world of bodysurfing and bodyboarding, which he took to in the 1970s because he was too small for large surfboards. He became a master.”He would sit on a board and spin three, four or five times across the face of a wave,” Cody said. He was the first to do this maneuver, a 360.

 Wolfson went on to win national and international competitions in the sport. He created his own bodyboard, which he sold at local surf shops.Fearless in the water, he took on big, fast surf. And he was one of the first Americans to regularly surf Puerto Escondido, the Mexican pipeline.

His legend grew when, facing terminal cancer, he spent his savings on others, left a note and $5,000 for a party and paddled out to sea to die. Comatose, he was rescued.In Feb 2000 Wolfsen was killed when his car veered off the Marina Freeway, went down an embankment and hit a tree. He was 50.

Eppo was a great innovator introducing new moves like the ARS and Backflip but what also set Eppo above and apart from other riders was his natural character. He was a one of a kind. What is lacking in the sport today and holding it back is there are no real characters like Eppo, Jay, Kyle and Hauoli any more. Bodyboardings image appears lifeless and dull from an outsiders point of view.

Patti Serrano is one of the unsung heroes of the sport of bodyboarding . Patti was the first  contest organizer, promoter, a mag editor and was there at the very beginning of bodyboardings humble beginnings. Heres just a brief insight into a life of incredible dedication of the sport. Below photo of Patti late 70′s during beach promotion.

Tom Morey and Patti met on the island of Kauai, Hawaii in 1970. “He used to come into my Health Food Bakery after surfing sessions” Patti remembers.Tom eventually moved to the mainland at Carslbad where he and Patti reunited when he was starting the Boogie Board company in 76 . Patti’s sister, Debbie Colwell (now of Custom X fame) and Patti began working for Tom in the factory. Patti’s early role was to just answer the phones, but Tom wanted her to take ove a marketing role by seeing accounts and selling. Patti went into promoting events with the shops as sponsors

The first comps were just Patti and 30 boards, a string of flags to rope off the area. Her goal was to introduce people to the “Boogie Board”.

The first compettion arena was the Western Boogie Association where many of the first Pros were launched. Names like Mike Lambresi, Tony Prince, Scott Evans and Roger Waller became the first Hot shots” and earned rewards like travelling to out of state events with me as the PRO Ambassadors.

Patti  went on to publish BIM - Bodyboarder International Magazine and Hard Core Bodyboarder Magazine (a newsprint pub) It became the mainstream mag after Western Empires BODYBOARDER mag folded in 1991. Patti wanted a mag that was published by bodyboarders. People like Pat Caldwell, Jay Reale and Regina Monetti helped create a mag for the masses.A few years later, Patti created the BIA - Bodyboarder International Association.

 Patti believes Tom Morey is the most inspiration surfer/inventor of all time. Never has anyone introduced more people to the ocean. And, that is of all ages. He is considered a genius and very “spacey” (in a good way)! He has created other products and today is in a jazz band playing the drums in Dana Point, California. (2012)

 “ In my wildest dreams I would have never thought the sport would get this big. Sometimes I stand out over the Pier and see all the boards on the beach and in the water and it is just really hard to wrap my head around the popularity. I feel so blessed to be an early pioneer of the sport.” Patti said.

Above Patti talking up the Morey Boogie at Cocoa Beach Pier. circa 1979

PODCAST:   http://www.talkshoe.com/tc/36729 < some historical interviews

FACEBOOK:   http://www.facebook.com/BIMwebTV

TWITTER:    http://www.twitter.com/BIMwebTV

 

Paul Roach  love of Thrash music in the 90′s ensured almost every video clip during that era he starred in had a death metal song attached to it.

 

Clip of Mike Stewart from Tom Boyles “Ultimate Wave Riding Vehicle”

South African Alistair Taylor wasn’t your average hyped up bodyboarding fanatic. For a start he was quiet, deep,unassuming, religious and never had a bad word to say about anyone. That all changed when the waves turned on and another side of Alistair would come out. The guys a full on charger, who loves it the bigger and heavier the conditions are. This shot competing at the SIC comp in the early 2000′s I remember he went to hospital this day after a back slamming on the reef photo CSP.

 

Barney is the evergreen of Queensland bodyboarding. A former Aussie champ he’s still as passionate about the sport today as he was when he busted onto the scene in the mid 80′s. This classic fisheye shot was taken at Barney’s fav. reef by Peto.

Dre busted onto the bodyboard scene from Durban, South Africa in the mid to  late 90′s. With a mouth full of braces and a strong hard to decipher accent he quickly became the kid most likely to succeed after his outstanding performances at Pipe. In a few years he would win back to back world titles the youngest bodyboarder to win the title. Pipe cruiser Photo Stroh.

 

 

 

Wise started making a name for himself in the early 90′s as the biggest threat on pro bodyboarding to ever come out of California. Wiseguy excelled at Pipe in Hawaii where he charged anything that came his way by  pulling into the craziest and meanest barrels. This shot Circa 90′s shows a glimpse of BW’s wild side photo Stroh

Cronulla born and bred Dave Ballard was one of the most powerful dropknee bodyboarders throughout the 90′s. His short stocky frame was tailor made to crank heavy turns and burial his rails. What set young Dave apart from other DK riders was his consistency at making moves. His hit rate was almost 100%. Photo Stroh Circa 90′s