HISTORY

Lanson Ronquilio spreading the aloha, this shot was taken of the stylish Hawaiian early 90′s. Ronk was just starting to fire and his name was on everyones lips.This was pre No Friends, photo Stroh

 

At age 16 a skinny blond headed kid who just moved to the Gold Coast from Wollongong hooked up a sponsor with Manta and Billabong and in the coming years would  captivate the world of bodyboarding with his calculated and stylish take it to the next level riding. This pic part of a 5 shot sequence was taken at Shark Island. As usual Mitch loves to tweak it and yes he made it. Photo Stroh Circa 2000′s.

In the early 2000s  Jay Reale organised a tour of the North Island of New Zealand mainly because he wanted more than anything to surf Raglan. It was only the 2nd time a group of travelling Pro Bodyboarders sampled the Kiwi hospitality of long point waves and freezing spanner water. Jay got his wish .Checking out a Geyser from left Jacob Reeves (just back from his honeymoon) Jay, Eppo the prankster, Nelz (not happy with the cold) and Vicki  Gleeson  photo Stroh

 

Matt fits into the category as a “rebel purist”. Pretty much all Dropknee riders do otherwise they would prone and enter all the comps. Matt would rather take the money and surf for fun and when the pic below was taken he was at the top of his game. He’d taken over as the DK mainman from the goofyfoot domination of  AKA, Roach and Ballard who all went into semi retirement. Lackey has the biggest grin and when he is having a good session or just nearby its contagious and you can feel it eminating. Photo early 2000′s at OTW by Stroh

 

 

When Michael “Eppo” Eppelstun came onto the bodyboard scene in the late 80′s it would be only a few short years before he would revolutionise the sport with a new gymnastic style. Eppo busted big and it was his radical approach and determination to make a name for himself in the sport that drove him to invent 3 new moves in the space of a few months. At the time kids everywhere copied Eppo and nothing much has changed since. From  his huge airs to his ARS and backflip Eppo laid down the format that every bodyboarder now copies. Below Eppo with his eye on the lip ready to launch  Circa 90′s photo Stroh.

 

In the late 90′s  it began when the  No Friends team of elite bodyboarders went on tour to promote their latest video offering. The NF guys were leading the sport at the time in every aspect and their videos were the most highly sort after videos on the market. If you were lucky the NF circus and their friends would roll into your town and blow up the sport of bodyboarding and for several years they took it to  another level at each  new premier.  Below a ticket from the Happy Camper Tour for Video No5.

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. 

 

Growing up surfing on The East Coast of USA Marylands Jay Reale was quick to learn Dropknee which suited the often less powerful beach break conditions he was faced with at home. In the early days Jay used skegs to help his turns to win contests. A few years later Jay took his act global and was busting the kinds of big moves that kept the photographers,mags and sponsors happy. Off The Wall float early90′s by Hoover.

Chris Bystrom renoun surf film maker produced 3 Bodyboard movies in The Blast Off series in the early 90′s. Chris filmed in 16mm and featured a heavy helping of the latest Hawaiian action of the day.

During his gun years when Mike was winning every contest and being exalted as the best bodyboarder in the world the king of Pipe was rarely seen without his O’Neill wetsuit. Looking slick, Photo early 90′s.