HISTORY

By 1984 the bodyboard boom was taking off all around the world. In New Zealand this Natural Flight Bodyboard advertisement appeared showing the first signs of a bodyboard industry beginning to get amped in the land of the long white cloud.

 

Dave Ballard was Australia’s leading Dropknee force throughout the 90′s. The kid from Cronulla who was first inspired by Keith Sasaki was to become one of the most exposed bodyboarders during his reign at the top. Riding for Billabong and Manta, Bal was a sponsors dream and throughout that decade scored more covers on Riptide than any other bodyboarder. Early 90′s photo Chris Stroh.

Australias pioneer bodyboarder Chaz McCall was the first rider to gain notoriety for charging at Shark Island. During the early  80′s the notoriously thick lips and shallow reef  of the Island gave it a reputation as one of the heaviest waves in the world. Chaz was responsible for showing what was possible on a bodyboard by dropping into the most twisted and warping caverns. This pic captured by Greg Button saw a bearded Chaz taking the drop and it was similar ground breaking photos that  inspired a homegrown crew to follow in his wake. 

 

 

Pat Caldwell launches off the lip at the infamous Newport Wedge in California for Wave Rebel early  ’90 photo by Russel Hoover.

The 4th installment of Riptide Magazine was the all time epic photo issue. The cover featured Keith Sasaki slotted at I Don’t Knows on Oahu’s Westside taken by Brian Bielmann.

This was a classic Shark Island day back in 1990 when Nathan “Nugget” Purcell jockeyed into position against a hungry pack of bodyboarders to snavel the wave of the day. The shot appeared in a Shark Island Clothing advertisement a small brand that lasted only a short time. Photo Chris Stroh

Early 90′s Mike Stewart led the market with his Turbo Pro Comp II bodyboard.

Paul Roach probably did as much for Dropknee just like Mike Stewart did for prone. With his skate inspired moves and power hacks Roach made DK  look too easy and inspired countless others to be just like him. Competing at Pipe early 90′s photo Hank.

Paul “Barney” Barnard is the evergreen rider of the sport who still rides today and is now the Morey rep on the Gold Coast. A former Aussie Champion, Barny was the poster boy for Billabong back in the 80s and 90′s  back when they still supported bodyboarding. Photo ’91 by MTV.

July/Aug ’91 issue of Riptide featured young Hawaiian bodyboarder Rollins Wood risking life and limb on this Sandy Beach bone crusher. Pic was by Chris Dyball.