HISTORY

Danny Kim rode his standup bodyboard better than most surfers rode their fiberglass boards. He could pull all the same moves and more and without the luxury of a fin. Danny was well ahead of his time and was the best at what has since become a forgotten art.Photo late 80′s.

Six Time World Champion and 3 times winner of the prestigous Shark Island Bodyboard Challenge, Guilherme Tamega is Brazils most famous bodyboarder . When this pic was taken mid 90′s Tamega was already pushing legend Mike Stewart for top honours at the infamous Pipeline photo Stroh

When Ryan Hardy made his first trip to the Northshore there was big expectations for the West Australian bodyboarder. He had been quietly building up a solid reputation at home and now if he wanted continue on the path as a pro bodyboarder he had to prove it on the World stage. Hardballs took to Pipe quickly and by the end of the 95/96 season all fears were laid aside as he had definitely left his mark. Rhino with a Pipe reverse , photo Stroh.

 

 

 

Known as Bullet or Macca young Steve MacKenzie from Maroubra was for many years around the late 80′s and early 90′s the top dog of Aussie bodyboarding. With a laid back quiet nature and never a bad word said about anyone  Macca was a well respected amongst his peers for his clean style and text book moves. His career peaked in 1997 when he won the Pipe Contest in huge swells. Riptide cover Feb ’92.

Probably the most versatile bodyboarder the sport has ever seen. Kainoa could charge the biggest waves both prone and dropknee, he could tear apart small waves unleashing the latest new school DK moves and be a World Title contender pushing Mike Stewart for top honours. This shot taken at Rocky Point around 1990 by Ted Grambeau .

 

This is the actual Ben Holland Twisted Flip move performed on the Back Beaches near Crescent Head near Port MacQuarie that gave Eppo the inspiration to invent The Air Roll Spin. Both moves were caught  on film by Strohy who had the honour of introducing Eppos ground breaking ARS to the bodyboard world in Underground Tapes 4 “Ballistic” as well naming  it. Photo Chris Stroh.

 

 

 

When photos began appearing of Mike surfing Waimea Shorey in the late 80′s it blew the Surfing World away. Others had surfed the Waimea Shorey before but not like Mike. Stewart took it  to another level and put a new aspect on what could be done out there.  Once the crowds moved in Mike let them have it and moved on to bigger and better playgrounds. Stewart below floating photo Bielmann.

Keith Sasaki clip from the movie Untouchables by Josph Libby.

Collection of early footage of DK master Paul Roach.