HISTORY

As a surf photographer I first met Dougy Robson around the late  80′s at a training/ photo session for the Aussie surf team heading to the world titles. Dougy was the only bodyboarder and the new hot kid who was super amped to shoot photos. After that first meeting he got hold of my phone number and for the next few years we started shooting photos almost daily. Dougy introduced me to hardcore bodyboarding and to all the other top bodyboarders. Soon I was spending more time shooting Dougy and his mates than I was shooting the standups which didn’t go down well with many of my old surfing friends. Dougy was super passionate about the fledgling sport and he dragged me along in his enthusiasm. It was his persistence that got me involved. Without his constantly pushing  I doubt I would have ever gone down that path. It was a shame his career was cut short with a heavy wipeout before he reached his full potential. Below Dougy King of The Island takes a left Photo Stroh early 90′s

The mid North Coast area of NSW has produced many great bodyboarding talents over the years. The beaches around Port Macquarie and Forster have produced stars like Eppo, The Murray Brothers, Kingy, Thorto, Banno, Mason Rose, Sam Bennett and Toddy De Graaf to name just a few. Troy De Coque in the early to mid 90′s from Forster was another who made a name for himself with his DK and prone moves. Below Troy showing his diversity at Bulls Paddock photo Stroh ’92

When Hawaiian Jeff Hubbard burst onto the scene in the early 90′s the sport of Bodyboarding would never be the same again. Hubb took aerial moves to a new level of high performance with a emphasis on going big. Suddenly Hubb was breaking boundaries and creating new moves that had never been performed. Pic below Hubb shadow dancing at Pipe late 90′s photo Chris Stroh

Cronulla’s infamous Skid Kids seen in the picture below were sometimes Contest directors nightmares. Here’s Riscole, Dougy Robson, Nugget, Brett Young, Wingnut and Matt Percy forming a tunnel for a Brazillian Competitor at the 1990 Pro Am at Manly. The Cronulla Boys were at war with the officials of the ABA around this time and were  loudly making a stand about contests being held at small wave venues where spinning to win to the beach in 1ft waves won you a place at Pipeline . Through their early protests it started a chain reaction of similar thought over the coming years which eventually lead to the first Shark Island Challenge and Contests worldwide being held at premier wave locations like The Box,  Reunion Island and El Fronton today.

Easter 1990 saw the running of the first Port MacQuarie Teams Challenge. Eppo was on home soil and was a standout in the maxed out conditions at Flynns Beach. The Cronulla Team eventually won the event. Typical Eppo wave exhibition during the comp at Flynns photo Stroh

 

Lightning Bolt Bodyboards.Circa 80′s

Around 1990 as bodyboarding took off around the world the coastline between Wollongong and Kiama on the south coast of Sydney had an influx of young hot riders who were soon making their name felt in local competions. Names like Egg McCaferty, Dane “Rat” Randall, Shane Griffith, Nigel Bolleck and Adam Switzer pictured below were leading the pack and their push put the South Coast on the map.  Kiama Wedge launch 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