1956 USA Surfers Visit Cronulla.

In 1956 The American Life Saving team out here for the Melbourne Olympics arrived in Cronulla and showed off their new revolutionary Balsa wood fiber-glassed surfboards. A big crowd turned up at South Cronulla to see them. Photo courtesy Dags.

 

Night Surfing ’84

A few images from the water during the first and only pro Night surfing comp at Elouera Beach. Top MR in flight, Hawaiian Bird Mahelona and Tommy Curren. Photos courtesy Waves.

 

 

Balsa Boards

Brian Jackson (furthest right) and his mates with some early balsa boards photo taken in ’59. Photo courtesy of Jackson Surfboards

 

Ashley Gee

When this adv. shot was taken of Ash he was a rising star usually found battling out with his main rivals like Glenn Pringle,  Alby Ross and Richard “Dog”Marsh in the local amateur division. Ash was a gifted natural surfer and once he tired of the comp routine he had developed into one of the areas top reef chargers. Still going strong today. Photo mid 80’s taken at one of Cronulla’s lesser named reef  spots.Photo Chris Stroh

 

Graham “Syd”Cassidy

During the 70’s and 80’s Syd Cassidy had a lot to do with the advancement of pro surfing. Using his job as a writer for a major Aussie newspaper and his connections he was able to drum up interest in the fledgling professional side of surfing. Through his tireless behind the scenes organising Syd was able to help rope in major sponsors like Coca Cola and form the Australian leg of the world tour. Syd below, caught in action  practicing what he preached  was a passionate surfer and part of the tight knit Sandshoes crew.

 

Bobby Brown

1963 image of Bobby  Brown surfing one of his favourite waves, Sandon Point.

Jim Banks

Jim Banks was not the first goofyfoot to surf Shark Island but he was at the time by far the best.  Jim charging the notoriously heavy reef was pretty full on going just as hard as the regular foots and getting just as deep. Photos like this classic image by Dave Shaw taken in ’77 was cutting edge back then.

The Board

Jackson Surfboards logo from the 80’s

Ross Marshall ’78

Ross Marshall like many of Cronulla’s rising surfing talents of the late 70’s were constant visitors to the South Coast. With so many decent reef waves on offer and a chance to escape Cronulla’s usual average beach break conditions Ross and his mates would be heading down the highway and the hint of swell. These shots taken in early ’78  at Pipe rights by Rob King.

 

Bay Surf 50’s

Bay surf near the mouth of the Port Hacking river between Cronulla and Bundeena has  always been a bit of a novelty spot because it only breaks properly a hand full of times a year. Back in the early 50’s the longer boards made it easy to pick up the swells and the boys sure didn’t mind a party wave back then. Photo courtesy of the late Charles Chicka Perryman photo album taken in the early 50’s , Chicka is among those on the wave.