HISTORY

In the 90′s three Dropknee riders ruled. Paul Roach had the brutal forehand snap, Aka Lyman had the stylish backside turns while Dave Ballard hit the lip better than anyone and made it more times than not. From Aus Bodyboarder photo Stroh

 

Australia’s foremost Dropknee legend. For years Bal was  the main star of Aussie DK. His powerful turns and progressive style ranked him up  there with the company of Aka Lyman and Paul Roach . His backside riding at the notorious Shark Island was a hard act to follow. This shot was taken at South Cronulla. A large left hander breaks in a big cyclonic north east swell maybe a hand-full of times a year. When its on Bal is running the show. Rail control early 90′s photo by Stroh

This photo was taken at The Wall at Cronulla late 80′s. Back then Bal was a  cheeky writeoff who never pulled any punches and called it like he saw it. Thirty or more years later he still hasn’t changed. Photo Stroh

Dave Ballard’s dropknee attack was powerful and uncompromising. The stocky framed Bal was a wrecking ball front-side or backside as this shot proves. This gouge photo was taken at Garie beach early 90′s by Stroh and used in a Billabong adv.

Ballistic was the No4 video in the Underground Tapes series. This is the bonus and last section  of the movie featuring Dave Ballard, Nugget and Banno captured during one afternoon session at Blackrock. This day  saw Bal going off and in his best form. The footage was unofficially loaded on youtube off an original vhs video so the quality is bad but still worth a look.

Bal was one of my favourite subjects to shoot. He  had power to burn and was bodyboardings version of Occy. He made my job as a photograoher easy. When you talk of DK greats Bal is right up there with Roach , Aka, Jack and Kyle. Photo from Riptide early 90′s by Stroh at Garie.

Getting invited to the SIC is one of the sports top honors. Next to Pipeline in Hawaii the Island comp is regarded by Bodyboarders as the ultimate event with a long waiting period and waves that can produce epic conditions. Below  Aussie Dave Ballard was a standout during his Island heats from Day 1 and free surf sessions throughout the event history and is still competing today. Photo Stroh

During the 90′s with the help of his sponsors Billabong and Manta, Dave Ballard was one of the highest profile riders in the world. At one stage he held the record for more covers on Riptide than anyone else. It was all because of his powerful stylish moves and ability to get the shot. This DK blast is proof photo Chris Stroh

Dave Ballard made the transition from standup to bodyboarder better than most. In 1990 when this shot was taken Bal aged around 15 was well on his way to becoming the hottest DK rider in Australia. Photo by Chris Stroh at The Wall Cronulla.

Shot snapped around 1990 of Dave Ballard who was  already showing heaps of potential with his powerful Dropknee moves. Photo Stroh