HISTORY

At age 16 a skinny blond headed kid who just moved to the Gold Coast from Wollongong hooked up a sponsor with Manta and Billabong and in the coming years would  captivate the world of bodyboarding with his calculated and stylish take it to the next level riding. This pic part of a 5 shot sequence was taken at Shark Island. As usual Mitch loves to tweak it and yes he made it. Photo Stroh Circa 2000′s.

Matt fits into the category as a “rebel purist”. Pretty much all Dropknee riders do otherwise they would prone and enter all the comps. Matt would rather take the money and surf for fun and when the pic below was taken he was at the top of his game. He’d taken over as the DK mainman from the goofyfoot domination of  AKA, Roach and Ballard who all went into semi retirement. Lackey has the biggest grin and when he is having a good session or just nearby its contagious and you can feel it eminating. Photo early 2000′s at OTW by Stroh

 

 

When Michael “Eppo” Eppelstun came onto the bodyboard scene in the late 80′s it would be only a few short years before he would revolutionise the sport with a new gymnastic style. Eppo busted big and it was his radical approach and determination to make a name for himself in the sport that drove him to invent 3 new moves in the space of a few months. At the time kids everywhere copied Eppo and nothing much has changed since. From  his huge airs to his ARS and backflip Eppo laid down the format that every bodyboarder now copies. Below Eppo with his eye on the lip ready to launch  Circa 90′s photo Stroh.

 

Growing up surfing on The East Coast of USA Marylands Jay Reale was quick to learn Dropknee which suited the often less powerful beach break conditions he was faced with at home. In the early days Jay used skegs to help his turns to win contests. A few years later Jay took his act global and was busting the kinds of big moves that kept the photographers,mags and sponsors happy. Off The Wall float early90′s by Hoover.

Chaz McCall was the  first bodyboarder to really charge Shark Island in the late 70′s. By the mid 80′s Dougy became his apprentice and soon followed the same path by taking waves that the surfers could not ride all handle. Where Chaz was pure go for it , Dougy took it a step further and began making the waves his main goal. Before long he was one Australias first bodyboarding media stars as photos of his tube riding skills and “Doug airs” began appearing around the globe. Unfortunately he was cut down in his prime when he broke his back in a wipeout and was forced to retire prematurely . Dougy enjoys the view  in the early 90′s photo Stroh

Adam Smith began bodyboarding at a very young age , by the time he was 10 years old he already had a name in the sport. Wingy was the first bodyboarder to be sponsored by Manta and by the time he was 12 he was already a regular in the Shark Island lineup where in the coming years he would earn his place at the top of the pack as one of the best of the all time Island crew. Below Wingut shows where he got his nickname photo Stroh ’89.

 

Some say that as a grommet Bal showed all the signs as a future prospect  in standup surfing. Once the bodyboard bug bit he traded in his surfboard and quickly made a name for himself as the king of Aussie Dropknee throughout the 90′s. Below Dave dissects a wave at The Wall at Cronulla around ’89 photo Stroh.

In the late 80′s Dougy Robson was the name on everyones lips in Australia. He was charging Shark Island and winning all the local comps. Photo Stroh

Shot of Mike Stewart surfing Guilotines in the late 80′s while he was touring and competing in Oz. Riding for Gotcha  on his blue turbo  he was at his stylish best. Unfortunately we had to cut the photo session short to get Mike to a shop promo. Photo Chris Stroh

When Mike first unleashed his huge forward air at Pipe it was the craziest move the sport of Bodyboarding had ever witnessed. Mike was so far ahead of other riders at that time he was virtually untouchable. Big forward airs are now part of most top professionals repertoire but even today few look as natural or as eye pleasing as when Mike busts one out. Photo Stroh.