HISTORY

The sport has seen some real characters throughout the years but probably few leave a more lasting impression than the boy from Cronulla affectionately known as Nugget. With Nugget what you see is what you get. As one of the standouts at Shark Island in the 90′s Nuggets name was well known around the bodyboard world. Tales of his adventurers were always doing the rounds. As a bodyboarder Nugget had a wild pedal to the metal approach and would never hold  back. This shot taken in Hawaii at Backdoor Circa 90′s by Chris Stroh

With the rise of bodyboard only stores around the world in the late 90′s it opened up the way for companies to create more pro mo tours for team riders to promote their products. Throughout the 90′s it was a golden age for groms to meet their idols , score autographs and free product. Tours by Americans Mike Stewart, Morey, No Friends, BZ , Roach and Toobs to name just a few drew big crowds in Australia as they toured up and down the coast. Below the Custom X team from the US drops into Emerald at Cronulla for a pro mo.

This is the symbol  of a revolution. The first No Friends logo started a movement that began in 1998 and lasted a decade. The NF brand changed the whole dynamics of  the sport by inventing classy vids, cool clothes and with the best team in the sport at the time the best progressive riding. The name itself represented a break away from standup surfings longtime monopoly to create a self sufficient industry that stood alone.

Known as Bullet or Macca young Steve MacKenzie from Maroubra was for many years around the late 80′s and early 90′s the top dog of Aussie bodyboarding. With a laid back quiet nature and never a bad word said about anyone  Macca was a well respected amongst his peers for his clean style and text book moves. His career peaked in 1997 when he won the Pipe Contest in huge swells. Riptide cover Feb ’92.

Probably the most versatile bodyboarder the sport has ever seen. Kainoa could charge the biggest waves both prone and dropknee, he could tear apart small waves unleashing the latest new school DK moves and be a World Title contender pushing Mike Stewart for top honours. This shot taken at Rocky Point around 1990 by Ted Grambeau .

 

Around 1998 passionate bodyboarders Mick and Karina opened up the first bodyboard only dedicated shop at Narrabeen. At the time it was a bold move setting up a risky buisness  in one of Standup Surfings most core heartlands. The shop was an instant success and ever since  it continues to be a market leader catering for every whim any bodyboarder desires. BSC started a chain reaction with other stores following in all parts of Australia.

This is the actual Ben Holland Twisted Flip move performed on the Back Beaches near Crescent Head near Port MacQuarie that gave Eppo the inspiration to invent The Air Roll Spin. Both moves were caught  on film by Strohy who had the honour of introducing Eppos ground breaking ARS to the bodyboard world in Underground Tapes 4 “Ballistic” as well naming  it. Photo Chris Stroh.

 

 

 

Throughout the 90′s VHS ruled and most bodyboard movies were shot on Hi 8 quality. On today’s standards Hi 8 movies and VHS are very low sub standard quality and don’t hold up to being shown on large TV formats. Hi 8 cameras  were cheap and nasty and by 1999 the market was flooded with assorted  low budget titles. Below just some of the better films from that year.

.From Top Left, Smorgasboard, Forgiven,Adolecence, Fumanchu, Stolen Ideas, Welfare, Rot 5.  Bottom row left, High Rollers, Justice For All, Minor Threat, Class of 99, Rush Junior High and Elevation.

The Manta bodyboard range  1990.

Monavales Mr Stylish, Matt Riley at I Don’t Knows Westside Hawaii photo Hoover.