HISTORY

Kiama Wedge is one of those classic Bodyboarding waves that attracted the best of the South Coast crew in the 90′s due to its sidewinder wedges just perfect for the likes of Karl Fjelsted, Egg, Adam Switzer, Nigel Bollack and Dane “Rat” Randall pictured below. Photo Stroh.

 

The third installment from Underground Tapes covering the winter season in Hawaii 92-93.

Matt should have grown up in the early 70′s, his approach to Dropknee/ Bodyboarding was like the Animal surfers of that era. They lived to ride waves and indulge in a no frills  carefree lifestyle. Matt’s a survivor, when he would camp out on The Northshore for weeks even with only small change in his pocket he always has a smile on his face. Photo Stroh early 2000′s at OTW.

Matt Percy soul-surfer long before the words became overused and getting barreled made more sense than contest points photo Stroh Circa 90s.

 

Ross “Hellman” Hawke along with Adam”Wingnut”Smith toured Tasmania in the early 90′s for Manta it was the first time Pro Riders had headed to the Apple Isle. Below Hellman carves in icy the waters at Rebounds photo Stroh

Pat Caldwell below practicing what he preached, inventor of the El Rollo mid rotation from the pages of Bodyboarding Magazine late 80′s.

Cronulla Bodyboarder Doug Robson was one of the pioneers of big airs. His punts at Suckrock in the late 80′s inspired Eppo to go even bigger in the coming years Photo Stroh

When Mike Stewart unleashed this move at Pipeline in the late 80′s the whole Bodyboard World sat up and took notice. It sealed his fate as the sports best rider at the time and helped create the legend.

 

Steve Mackenzie wins the prestige’s Aussie Title held at Manly Beach in 1ft woeful conditions in 1990. It was at this event the slick well run ABA contest machine first clashed with the Skid Kids of Cronulla and a war between the opposing factions erupted. ABA wanted the sport run like the “Boy Scouts” with parents running the show while the kids from Cronulla wanted events held in proper bodyboarding waves and not spin to win events.  In the long run the Skid Kids of Cronulla won, they pushed long and hard until the Shark Island Challenge comp was formed in ’97 and the sport finnaly saw the light about comps being run in quality wave arenas. Macca also won the first SIC event.Photos: Steve Mackenzie claims victory by Needham insets of The Skid Kids Youngy, Nugget and Wingnut  by Stroh from Riptide.

 

Hawaiian Dean Marzol was one of the sports pioneers throughout the 80′s making a name for himself at Pipeline and a regular competitor and finalist of The World Titles held at Bansaii.