HISTORY

            Brian Wise originally came from Orange County in California, mainland USA . His local spot was T Street a highly competive area known for explosive talent and excellent bodyboarding waves. Wiseguy soon stood out from the pack and found a hunger for competing and became a major threat on the USA circuit giving the Hawaiians Stewart, Sasaki and Sevo a good nudge. He had a reputation for being brash and rubbing other competitors up the wrong way. After joining the World Tour in the early 90′s he became a regular finalist and a big hit with many of the Brazilian girls. It was in Hawaii that Wise found his real calling. On the Northshore he built up a reputation as a fearless charger paddling out at 2nd reef Pipe when everywhere else was closing out. He’d launch off crazy sections and pull into monster barrels making it most of the time. Today Brian lives on the Northshore and still charging. Photo below is of Wiseguy cranking off the bottom at Backdoor mid 90′s  pic Stroh

Phylis was the sports first female star. She earned this reputation not winning contests but charging big Sunset and Waimea Bay back in the late 70′s. She was one of bodyboardings first big wave chargers.Pictures started turning up of her taking massive freefall drops on her bodyboard outside at The Bay on the biggest days. Her performances were up there with any hardcore surfer of the time. She even had rigged a special super thick wrist rope and a homemade square plug for extra strength when wiping out to help prevent her being seperated from her board. Phylis was profiled in 79 in Surfer Magazine.

Evan Penglis began bodyboarding between the flags at Maroubra Beach in the late 70′s. He soon grew a passion for  entering contests and won the 1st Official Australian title beating Mark Warren in the final at Dee Why.Evan won a ticket and an invite into the first official Morey Boogie World Titles held at Pipeline in ’82. Around his hometown Evan earned the title The Godfather for his role as Australias first international ambassador and competitor.Evan put Australia on the map charging in Hawaii even earning the best wipeout award. Back home the Godfather took under his wing hot upencoming Maroubra grommets like Bob Bell, Ross Hawke and young Steve Mackenzie. Together they dominated local contests for many years in the 80′s. Evan was the first rider sponsored by Morey Boogie  in Australia. Photo below Evan chilling on the South Coast 91  photo Stroh

 Alex de Pontes was also known as Xandinho, he was the first Brazillian to receive international recognition in the sport. Alex charged in Hawaii on his BZ with Redley Fins and was the first Brazilian to reach the finals of the Pipeline Bodyboarding World Championships. He was also involved as a designer for Redley and was a  rider represenative for the bodyboarders on the World Tour. In 1994 while returning from a contest in Portugal he was killed in car accident. Fellow countryman 6 time world champion Guilherme Tamega  credits Xandinho as one of the greatest bodyboarders of all time.This shot was taken in Manly at the Pro comps around 89.     photo Stroh

Steve “Bullet” Mackenzie from Maroubra is one of Australia’s most respected bodyboarders. He won the first contest he ever entered that just happened to be a Aussie Title. Macca went on to dominate the local comp scene notching up many State and National titles along the way. Bullet in the early years was winning with his dropknee but after a wipeout in West Oz wrenched his knee he switched to prone. In 92 he placed 6^th at the World titles at Pipe. Then in ’98 he beat 2^nd Kainoa McGee, 3^rd Danial Rocha and  4^th Alistair Taylor to win the most prestigious crown in bodyboarding in maxing conditions. Macca also in 98 won the sports other most desired trophy the Shark Island Challenge. Bullet is best remembered for his classic lines and his smooth tube riding skills, no matter the size.These days Macca keeps a pretty low profile, fishing and surfing mostly away from the crowds.This pic was snapped late 80′s in The Bra shorey  photo Chris Stroh

Regarded as the ultimate style master Skip is envied by most bodyboarders for his effortless flowing moves. After relocating to the Northshore from the Big Island around 95 he soon began making a name for himself. Riding for Morey Boogie he became a favorite with photographers. His first big break was the Riptide Annual cover when he was captured hitting the lip at Gums during the Pipe trials. In the 95 Pipe event Spencer placed 2^nd behind Mike Stewart. The result launched his career into the Pro ranks. In 98 he teamed up with the No Friends crew and changed the way we looked at bodyboarding with break through videos that were well ahead of their time. In 2003 he once again placed 2^nd at Pipeline behind Kingy. Skipps burning ambition still today is to win a Pipe title. Today Skips still living on the Northshore ripping as usual.   Photo below Off The Wall forward air by Stroh

Daniel Kaimi was one of the sports first big wave chargers when he began taking off on the outside reefs at Pipeline in Hawaii during the 70s. When Daniel first ventured out he had to prove himself to the standup surfers to be accepted as he was the only bodyboarder at the time in the lineup. Known as The Boogieman he  began pulling crazy Air Rollos and other new moves. With his wild afro he caught the attention of Chris Bystrom and appeared in the early 80s video Blazing Boards. This was the first footage of a bodyboarder captured charging big Pipe. In 82 at the first Pipe International Championship he beat Jack Lindholm 2^nd and Mike Stewart 3^rd to become the sports first official World Champion winning $1500. A year or two later Daniel disappeared out of the media after a run in with the surf magazines and photographers who boycotted him after he tried to sue them for using his image without payment. Without media coverage Daniels career came to a quick stop.   Pic below The Boogieman taking the drop at Third Dips on the Westside photo Stroh

     Growing up in Tahiti, Matt grew up surfing perfect shallow sharp reef waves and was renown for his fearless go for it approach. When he ventured to Hawaii to compete at the World Championships at Pipeline his smooth casual style was well suited to Pipes hollow barrels. On the biggest maxed out days he was always one of the first out, taking the sets and pulling in regardless of the consequences. In ‘94 he placed a credible 4^th in the final of The Morey Boogie Pipe International contest. Tragedy struck in 2001 when along with fellow Frenchman, David Legleye the pair were killed in a car crash returning from a contest. His forever smiling face will be missed but never fogotten. R.I.P     Below Matt eyes the prize at Backdoor. photo Stroh

Jay came from Rockville Maryland on the East Coast. He began surfing at Ocean City and was soon entering contests. In 82 Jay was the East Coast Champion and his next move was to the West Coast and settled in at the super competive T Street with Keith Sasaki . By 87 he was building a name with his prone and Dropknee surfing and spent his first winter on the Northshore. Jay concentrated on getting photos published and pulling in sponsors and portraying himself as a clean cut pro rider.In 89 he placed 4th at Pipeline. After years of chasing the World Circuit he became best known as mainland USAs best known rider. Today he is married to fellow bodyboarder Vicki Gleeson , raising a family and running Ebodyboarding.com   Blackrock reverse pic by Stroh

Chaz was Australias first bodyboard star. He first rose to fame after he moved from England to Cronulla Beach in the late 70′s. He found a bodyboard and started charging at Shark Island. Pics began appearing in surf mags of Chaz going for it taking on some warping Surge beasts. McCall began riding the type of  mutant barrels that were thought of at the time impossible to ride. Chaz appeared in Morey Boogies first all Aussie advertisement. Eventually Chaz got sick of the crowds and moved north to Byron. It was Chaz who inspired the likes of Doug Robson , Brett Young and the new Island crew to take the sport to another level.    pic Stroh Circa 80′s.