HISTORY

Mike Stewart is probably best known for his dominating freesurf performances at Pipeline. In the bodyboard world he is regarded as the equivalent of Gerry Lopez aka Mr Pipeline. However Mike was equally at home going the other way as well. Backdoor the reverse off Pipe is an awesome wave itself.  Mike was just as impressive if not more finding the longest tubes and making them going right. Photo Stroh Circa 90′s

Kingy grew up surfing the beachies of Port Macquarie an area not known for producing heavy waves. Strangely enough, Damian went on to win The Shark Island Challenge in the heaviest waves in the events history and also any contest held in Australia. This shot taken from that same monster swell where riders put their lifes on the line to  get barrelled. Photo CSP

Back to back World Champion in ’98 and 99 Andre Botha was the youngest competitor to ever capture a World Title. Growing up in Durban South Africa, Dre was a regular at Cave Rock a solid reef wave were he learnt to ride and appreciate heavy waves.  Dre made his debut on the Northshore as a blond headed grommet with a weird accent and a mouthful of braces. He quickly earned a reputation for his go for it in the large winter swells. Dre was also up there with punching big moves as well. This invert at Off The Wall early 2000′s by Stroh

When Ben Player made his debut on the Northshore around ’97 and in particular Pipeline the scrawny kid from Avalon fitted into the wave and lineup like he had surfed there all his life. Ben took to Pipe almost immediately and was soon pulling into the kinds of caverns that were reserved for guys like Mike, Tamega and Kainoa. Ever since Ben has been a standout at Pipe each winter and continues to show no sign of slowing down. Photo Stroh late 90′s.

Before Ryan Hardy made a name for himself internationally for years he was charging the biggest and best waves that West Oz is famous for often alone. Growing up Ryan surfed by himself most days often way out to sea on reefs that few others dared venture out to. Here’s Rhino on one such day below taking a large one at Cross-waves.  Photo Holtzy.

 

Here’s a late 70′s Morey advertisement featuring Hawaiian girl charger Phylis Dameron. Phylis earned a solid reputation on the Northshore for being one of the first bodyboarders to charge on those big days at Waimea and Sunset.

This photo was taken at The Wall at Cronulla late 80′s. Back then Bal was a  cheeky writeoff who never pulled any punches and called it like he saw it. Thirty or more years later he still hasn’t changed. Photo Stroh

This photo was taken late 80′s when Mike was single handedly ruling the sport in every aspect photo Stroh.

Macca the hell grom from Maroubra photo Stroh.

The talented Keith Sasaki was the best dropknee rider in the world when this shot was taken on the South Coast during a promo tour of Oz in ’89 photo by Stroh