HISTORY

When Eppo was on top of the contest scene in Australia he used to rave about two young bodyboarders from Port MacQuarie who he believed could take it all the way in bodyboarding. The first was Toddy DeGraaf. Eppo described him as the most naturally talented bodyboarder he had ever seen. The second was Damaian King. While Damo did live up to Eppos early prediction by winning two World Titles, Toddy took a totally different path happy to just rip the waves at home at Port. This shot of Toddy taken at North Wall early 90′s by Chris Stroh

Pikers Hole was first surfed on mats and kneelos in the 70′s but it wasn’t until the early 90′s after years of going unridden that Wazza Feinbeer rode it by himself on his bodyboard with his brother Steve Austin. Wazza was the first bodyboarder and for years had the spot to himself. In early 2000′s word got out about the world class slabbing beast of a wave that rivals the heaviest barrels around. It was the beginning of the end for many years after surfers from Maroubra claimed the spot and renamed it Ours. Lately the Bra Boys have relented to a degree their violent stance and bodyboarders are now sneaking back in the lineup. The beast unleashes photo CSP.

 

 

When Team Manta embarked on a tour of Australias most southern Island they had no idea what to expect. Ross Hawke and Wingnut were the first two Pro riders to venture down to the Apple Isle and were blown away by the quality untapped bodyboarding waves that greeted them. Plus the dedicated local crew, a few even surfed in the icy waters without wetsuits. This shot Wingnut and The Hellman watch as huge swells pound the rugged Tassie coasline. Photo Stroh ’90

 

It began with Tom Boyle and his in depth fish eye photos at Sandy Beach that photographers and bodyboarderss have shared a unique vision. Tom was the first to really get  up close and personal shots inside the tube. Since then bodyboard photographers have been at the forefront of getting different angles. Aaron Lloyd began experimenting with pole cameras and pictured below Flindt captures Jay Reale using a pole rig at Off The Wall trying for that elusive photo edge. Many of the top water photographers today were former boogie riders like Tim Jones, Scott Aichner, Chris White, Scotty Carter, Toinz, and Trent Miller.Photo Chris Stroh Circa 90′s

 

 

 

Tahitian Matt Walbrou grew up surfing perfect but dangerous reef waves on his tropical Island home where he developed into a world class tube rider. The French speaking Matt later moved to Hawaii where he quickly became a standout at Pipeline throughout the 90′s with his gutsy go for it charging when the waves were at there maxing  best. This shot taken back in Tahiti at an unknown reef by Werneck early 90′s. 

 

When bodyboarding went viral in Australia in the mid 80′s , the young Cronulla bodyboarders had a clear advantage over everyone else in the land of Oz by concentrating on their  big wave skills. With waves like Shark Island , The Point and Voodoo in their backyard they adapted to powerful waves early in their careers and made a huge impact on sport both locally and internationally. Below Brett Young lines up a heavy drop at Cronulla Point around ’88.Photo Chris Stroh.

Not sure who this rider is but the shot was taken around ’77 by Bob Barbour it was just one of 1000′s of surfing photos taken during the seventy’s by many of the worlds best cameramen back then that were lost for decades but have recently been found. Pipeline was the perfect arena for bodyboarding and its no wonder it is still the epicentre of the sport even today.

When it came to Dropknee the Hawaiians were definitely leading the way throughout the 80′s and 90′s. Names like Jack Lindholm, Kainoa McGee,Keith Sasaki, Aka Lyman, Kyle Maligro, Harry Antipala,  Joey Viera, Robbie Gall and Jacky Buder are just a few of the standouts. Below is Fred Booth who also took dropknee riding to the edge of performance  as part of the Custom X team in the 90′s. Floating on the lip like a butterfly at OTW photo Stroh.

Kingy grew up in Port Macquarie in waves that suited both prone and dropknee conditions. The area has produced plenty of  hot riders like the Murray Brothers, Toddy DeGraaf ,Rick Bannister, Mason Rose and Kingy who excelled at both mediums. Kingy proved his point winning the 2011 DK World Tour Title. This photo was taken at Backdoor on the Northshore early 2000′s

Rick Bannister went from hot local passionate rider at Port MacQuarie surfing the infamous Breakwalls to one time editor at Riptide.  What set Banno apart from most other bodyboarders he was equally skilled at both prone and DK and in Hawaii he had a reputation for giving it a nudge on those big Pipe days. Hitting the ramp at North Wall ’92 photo Stroh