HISTORY

 Hardballs first hit the Northshore around ’96 and fitted in at Pipeline like he was surfing his home break . Over the next decade he was a constant standout with his clean lines and smooth moves. This pic busting a big forward air, photo Stroh around ’99

Nathan “Nugget” Purcell was best known for his ripping out at Shark Island, inventing the Gorf move and along with Mark Fordham creating the Shark Island Challenge. During the 90′s Nugget like the rest of the top echelon of bodyboarders around the world he made the winter pilgrimage to Hawaii’s Northshore. Nugget around this time put in some solid free surfing performances out Pipe and Backdoor. This cutty carve was typical of the moves that impressed the locals. Photo Stroh mid 90′s.

Jarratt Lau from Hawaii is still a local standout and accomplished big wave bodyboarder who first turned up in the early 90′s sporting a semi afro and an even bigger grin. He rode for Science and had his own model. In 2007 when competing in the Pipe Masters he scored a perfect 10, the footage can be seen here on youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxSBqArmr0c       The pic below was taken at Waimea Shorey showing Lau pulling in with his  typical “no guts,no glory” style. Photo Stroh mid 90′s.

When Kingy  was still a youngster and a cheeky one at that he was spending the majority of his time surfing at the breakwalls of Port MacQuarie. Damian used to Dropknee almost as much as he proned. The Kingston utilised the wedging mid north coast side washes to smash the lips and throw down the big money shot moves. Below typical Kingy hack taken in the late 90′s on the North Coast of NSW photo Stroh.

Karl was the first bodyboarder to make a name for himself from the South Coast of Sydney. Karl from Kiama Beach was an early competitor during the mid 80′s but preferred the luxury of free surfing the ample hot spots around his area. Fjelsted influenced a whole crew of South Coasters to take up the sport and follow in his footsteps. This  shot shows Karl launching at his local wedge. Photo Stroh early 90′s.

Raffi was from California and when he first popped up on the radar around the mid 90′s. Riders  like Paul Roach were calling him the next big thing in DK and he was all over the US mags. When he hit the Northshore in Hawaii for the first time he  quickly enforced his rep with some solid DK ripping and proved all the hype that surrounded him was true. By the end of the decade Raffi went underground and seemed to be burned out of the bodyboard scene .This pic was taken at Gums around this time. Photo Chris Stroh

This was the first Australian advertisement for Morey Boogie . it appeared in the Novemer Tracks 1975.

One of the early Maroubra crew Bob hanged out with Evan , Macca and Hawkey and was a top competitor in the early days of the sport in Oz. This pic of Bob at one of his favourite haunts, Suckrock. Bob had the placed wired. Photo Stroh late 80′s.

Daniel “The Boogieman” Kaimi introduced style and flair to his riding performances as well as some good old ballsy charging. This shot looking casual at Pipe appeared in Surfer Magazine, photo by Vince Cavataio early 80′s.

Before Towouts ,Towins,reverse airs and all the air punts the humble cutback was one of the most important moves of a bodyboarders repertoire. Done properly like Ross below this basic turn can become a super powerful statement in the hands of the right rider. The more spray the better the visual result and contest points.These days not as much emphasis is put on the cutty. Photo Stroh late 80′s.