HISTORY

Australia’s foremost Dropknee legend. For years Bal was  the main star of Aussie DK. His powerful turns and progressive style ranked him up  there with the company of Aka Lyman and Paul Roach . His backside riding at the notorious Shark Island was a hard act to follow. This shot was taken at South Cronulla. A large left hander breaks in a big cyclonic north east swell maybe a hand-full of times a year. When its on Bal is running the show. Rail control early 90′s photo by Stroh

Originally from Brazil before moving to Australia, Steph was the Queen of Womens bodyboarding in the late 80′s and early 90′s. The former multi world  champ was  always a standout and fearless whenever the waves were overhead and cracking.

Marcus Cal Kung from Rio in Brazil began bodyboarding around 1973 when he got his hands on one of the original Morey Boogie boards. Marcus was the first Brazillian  to take to bodyboarding seriously and he was instrumental in pioneering the sport in every avenue from promoting. competing locally, internationally and by representing Brazil around the world in the early days. Today Marcus runs Kung Bodyboards where he is regarded as a master custom shaper in Brazil and he focusses  on high performance and innovate designs .

 

Phyllis Dameron was one of the first bodyboarders to lay her hands on a Tom Morey original glue up Boogie board. By 1974/75 she was making a name for herself charging at Waimea and Sunset. The two shots below show her fearless approach at Waimea, photographer unknown.

 

 

Californian wildman Chad Barba grew a passion for charging  monster swells while growing up on a healthy diet of ocean madness at the infamous Newport Wedge. In the early 90′s Barba was one of the Wedge standouts pulling in, launching big and taking severe poundings at one of the heaviest bodyboard waves on the  planet.

Hauoli snags a perfect Banzai barrel and scores the cover of Vol 15 Riptide 1992 photo by Brian Bielmann.

Dave Ballard was Australia’s leading Dropknee force throughout the 90′s. The kid from Cronulla who was first inspired by Keith Sasaki was to become one of the most exposed bodyboarders during his reign at the top. Riding for Billabong and Manta, Bal was a sponsors dream and throughout that decade scored more covers on Riptide than any other bodyboarder. Early 90′s photo Chris Stroh.

Australias pioneer bodyboarder Chaz McCall was the first rider to gain notoriety for charging at Shark Island. During the early  80′s the notoriously thick lips and shallow reef  of the Island gave it a reputation as one of the heaviest waves in the world. Chaz was responsible for showing what was possible on a bodyboard by dropping into the most twisted and warping caverns. This pic captured by Greg Button saw a bearded Chaz taking the drop and it was similar ground breaking photos that  inspired a homegrown crew to follow in his wake.