HISTORY

At 17 years of age San Diego North County bodyboarder Kevin Cerv made an impact on the US circuit. Kev had a unique style all of his own with plenty of energy and lightening fast manoeuvres that saw him a regular finalist. Mike Stewart said of Cerv, “He was difficult to ride against especially in small waves”.

From a Bodyboarding article written by Evan Penglis called “Bodyboading for the Record” these pics of the Maroubra crew appeared in Tracks Nov ’86. Top image was of Ross Hawke, Middle: Evan Penglis and bottom left is Macca all taken at Suckrock while bottom right is of unknown by Simmo.

 

Around the early 2000′s Hawaiian  ripper Chad Milante from Maui had a strong underground following. He earned it for his overall talent. He charges, launches big and he rides dropknee switchstanch. Many believe Chad had the ability to mix it up with the big boys but his typical Hawaiian laidback approach saw  him shine the pro scene to concentrate on the waves at his home. This cover pic barrel of Chad on the cover of Bodyboarding Magazine in 2002 was snapped by Kealoha.

Before bodyboards arrived on the scene and took over completely, Mat riding was the choice of many in the Seventies. Cronulla was a haven for alternative surf craft and ideal for Mat riding. The pic below is of  John Shaw charging on a solid day at The Point. Many of the first hardcore  bodyboarders in Australia were former mat riders thanks to George Greenough who pioneered them and created a cult like following.Photo Steve Core.

Northside bodyboarders Nick and Adrian Hybner (Slug) were standout riders at Monavale in the late 80′s. Older brother Nick and Matt Riley were full on competition rivals back in those days. The pair were continually pushing each other in and out of the surf. Eventually Nick followed a career as a chef and gave up competing while younger brother Slug went on to make a name for himself throughout the 90′s. This shot of Nick freefalling was taken at the Monavale Basin also called The Whomp around the late 80′s, its Monavales answer to Waimea shorey.

Avalon bodyboarder Dave Mowbray was one of  Australia’s first pioneers from the North side who helped organise the  first amateur comps as well as  compete in them. This photo was taken in ’82 at the Newport  Comp where 30 riders turned up to do battle,these were the very early days of competition in Australia . Dave placed 2nd to Peter McCallum from Bungan Beach. Shot below of Dave was by Kerrie Lee.

Postcard of prone surfing, circa 1925. Timber boards at Muizenberg Beach , South Africa.

 

Californian kid Raffi Meyer grew up in the bodyboarding public eye in the late 90′s as the next big thing in  dropknee. Paul Roach regarded as the king was one of his most vocal supporters. For a while Raffi who rode natural looked set to follow in Roaches wake. He had the moves and skills but seemed to bum out on the whole stagnating bodyboarding scene a few years later and dropped off the radar for a while.  Pic below showing Raffi blazing in his prime with his trademark fronside float riding for Cartel Bodyboards photo by Nunez around 2000.

One of the first Morey Boogie bodyboards kit models to arrive in Australia around ’73 that came complete  with glue and instructions  on how to put it together. This classic board is on show at Bodyboarders Surf Co. on the Gold Coast.

Danny Wall a virtual unknown from Plymouth in the United Kingdom rocked up to the North Shore around the mid 90′s as a young wide eyed grommet. After this session at Waimea Shorey his picture was plastered around the bodyboard media world wide. Danny went on to become the main dominating force in British bodyboarding for the rest of the decade. Danny taking the drop pic Stroh