HISTORY

Jack “The Ripper” Lindholm Morey Boogie advertisement from the early ’80s

Eppos Freakshow movie came out in the summer of ’93 following up on Eppos World Title success. After winning the crown in January Eppo spent the next 6 months filming with photographer Chris Stroh and during that time he invented two new moves that changed the course of bodyboarding. Eppo started the gymnastic era when he introduced the Air Roll Spin and Backflip moves. Poster below photo Stroh

In this early 80′s Cheetah advertisement Queenslands Cheryl Dombrowski is charging at G Land. Cheryl was one of Australia’s first serious girl bodyboarders.

Heres the first 10 issues of Riptide covers in order, left to right: Ballard, Hellman, Wazza, Sasaki, Hellman,Kainoa, Danny Kim,Robson, Percy and Danny Kim.Vol 1,2,5,8,9 were shot by Chris Stroh

Cameron Steele from San Clemente USA was one of the top mainland pro’s during the later half of the eighties. A talented BMX rider he rose to bodyboard fame at home when he was the highest non Hawaiian on the PSAA tour and then placing in the finals of the World Championships at Pipe. Cameron was the man behind Pit Magazine when it was at its most controversial best. In one issue Pit  managed to offend around 95% of the Top 16 riders of the time. Cameron dropped out of the sport as a pro rider by the early 90′s and focused on a career as a sports announcer for Motorcross.

Shamus Mercado was one of Hawaii’s top riders and characters around the late 80s and early 90′s. Best known for his Sandy Beach tube shots and big lip launching moves at Off The Wall and Pipeline. This ’89 cover of Bodyboarding mag featured a Shamus and Tom Boyle collaboration using Toms camera board. It  was well ahead of its time and gave the mag a futuristic look to it. 

The first all Dropknee video by Joseph libby and edited by Scotty Carter was an eye opening view into the world of DK and its hottest riders. With a hip hop soundtrack it broke away from the usual format and it foccussed on the big moves and top riders. Starring Kainoa, Aka, Roach, Ballard and the rest of the best of the Jack Stance boys with a strong Hawaiian presence.Check the intro clip http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5_Mm5EUHWc

Manta has been an iconic Australian bodyboard brand for 25 years. Starting out in Cronulla in November 1985 in humble surroundings. Manta soon started pushing innovative designs built for the waves in the local area which included the infamous Shark Island that had an abundance of talented locals that were more than happy to test drive the new boards. Manta has always pushed innovative designs right from the get go in the late 80’s until the present day and into the future. Manta has sponsored some of the sports best riders including Ross Hawke, Doug Robson, Dave Ballard, Tim Jones, Adam “Wingnut” Smith, Michael “Eppo” Epplestun, Paul Roach, Ryan Hardy, Mitch Rawlins, Andrew Lester and John Showell plus many others and still today sponsors and will continue to with riders such as Spencer Skipper, Tommy Smith, Brendon Backshall and Taylor Brockman.

When Mike Stewart was towed into Jaws in Maui it was at the time the biggest waves ever ridden by a bodyboarder. The session was featured in the Hollywood flick “In Gods Hands” in ’98 in which Mike had an acting role.It inspired a whole new generation of bodyboarders to start experimenting with towins and it opened up a whole new realm of big wave possibilities.

This pic below features Brazils hottest bodyboarder throughout the 80′s Alex De Pontes defeating the legendary Mike Stewart who was almost unbeatable around this era in France. Alex was the first Brazillian to achieve such a goal.