HISTORY

Early 80′s standout and one of the sports first pro’s, JP even had the honour by winning the first ever bodyboard comp held at Pipe. This pic by Hank for Challenger by Easyrider.

Hawaiian born Kavan was one of the first innovators to push away from the basic moves and start adding tweaks and twists to standard turns and advanced the sport with his lip launches and first aerials. This pic by Tom Boyle was part of the ’89 Board Test in Bodyboarding mag.

Sasaki was the first  dropknee rider to fully push the limits with manoeuvres and edge control. He copied the surf moves and transferred them over to to bodyboarding. Keith used his arm leash to help whip his turns like the Morey Adv featured below that got kids amped on the Jack Stance.

 

When Doug Robson wasn’t dancing on the bar at nightclubs like Carmens he was always on the prowl for  heavy barrels to pull into. Best known for his Shark Island performances he was equally talented going left as well. This pic early 90s by Stroh

A country bumpkin when he first arrived at Port MacQuarie, Eppo soon revolutionised the sport with his aerial attack and innovation.One of the sports finest ambassadors and most passionate riders. Photo Stroh ’90.

Keith brought style to the sport. In the 80′s he led the DK charge by pushing skate moves and breaking away from the mostly soft flat turns being performed by dropkneers of the past. Sasaki was doing barrel rolls, laybacks, floaters, re -entrys and constantly had his rail on the edge. Photo below of Keithy was taken on the South Coast at Potholes. Stylish as always Sasaki exits the barrel with his usual flair. Photo Chris Stroh  ’90.

Paul Roach changed Dropknee forever when pictures like the one below began turning up in Bodyboarding Magazine in the early 90s.

Steve MacKenzie was Australia’s most celebrated rider for a long time. In the late 80′s and 90′s the style concience  Maroubra kid could surf both prone or dropknee and won almost every local comp he went in. This shot from early 90′s demonstrates his DK prowess. Photo Stroh

Hawaiian heavy hitter Lanson Ronquilio throughout the 90′s was leading the charge of local Hawaiian bodyboarders and part of the elite Morey team. As an original member of the No Friends team he charged hard in the big stuff but could also mix it up with the air brigade at Off The Wall. This pic below captured Lanson in full flight, photo Bielmann.