HISTORY

Australia’s onetime premier contest, results  from a newspaper clipping written by Evan Penglis.

Before Tom Boyle turned his hand to surf photography, film making and putting together the first real images of hardcore bodyboarding he was part of the original Sandy beach bodyboard crew and one of the sports first Pro riders.This pic was taken at Pipe in the early days of the Morey Boogie World Title event when Tom finished well placed.

Postcard of prone surfing, circa 1925. Timber boards at Muizenberg Beach , South Africa.

 

Harry Antipala from Kauai in Hawaii must have been stoked to win this USA Bud Tour event in ’91 not only winning the cash but taking down 2 of the sports biggest legends in the one heat in Ben Severson and Mike Stewart must have been  the icing on the cake. photo Beppu.

Young looking Mike Stewart at the peak of his career and dominating the sport in 1987, Photo Yoshioka

Seamas Mercado was one of the standout Hawaiian bodyboards during t he late 80′s and early 90′s. Renown for his ability to pull into macking Sandy’s and other South Shore slabs as well as big performances on the Northshore. This pic from an A-Tach bodyboard advertisement  ’95

Tow-in bodyboarding began to gain popularity among the elite of bodyboardings most adventurous around the start of 2000.It began around the same time that Mike Stewart towed in at Jaws then Teahupoo. It then  found its way to West Oz where riders like Chad Jackson, Sean Virtue, Brad Jackson and  mates began taking on Cyclops and other offshore reefs of mutant size and proportions. This shot of Chad is from a Turbo poster shows just what is possible and how far big wave riding has come.

Heres a clip from 2010 of The Wedge in all its glory. The Newport Wedge has been   the epicentre of bodyboarding in Californian since the sport began and after checking out this clip you can understand why….teaser by Hess Films      

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQsobHGcNmU&feature=player_embedded#at=26

As a Cronulla kid John Showell eagerly followed in the footsteps of Andrew Lester and soon began making a name for himself with his heavy go for its at Shark Island when it was at its evil best. John was a natural nutter out at Australia’s best known and most infamous bodyboard wave. He would take off deep, power through whiterock dodging ledges and steps as the lips above would be as thick as they were high. Then while most riders would be happy enough to just make the barrel, John would launch some crazy big backflip or air off the section and make it. Total fearless and easily one of the top locals to ever grace this lineup. Right up there with Chaz, Wazz, Lester, Perce, Bal, Nugget and Rissole. This shot of Johnny was taken during a Shark Island Challenge right on dark as the sun was setting behind the highrise. Photo Chris Stroh

One of the sports true superstars and greatest waterman. From charging huge Pipe dropknee, busting heavy moves to winning contests, Kainoa is respected worldwide  . He’s one rider who deserved a World title , came so close on numerous occasions and pushed Mike Stewart right to the edge in some classic duals. Photo below Industry advertisement of Kainoa displacing a heavy slab of water photo by Libby around 2000.