Just Cruising by Alastair Waddell

In 1976, when he first screened his movie Just Cruising – An Australian Surf MovieAlastair Waddell had been surfing around Cronulla for almost 20 years and closely involved in the local boardriding club scene. He shot the affectionate flick using a camera bought from Jack Eden and a lengthy lens that used to belong to Bob Evans, two of surfing’s big hitters of the 60s. His aim was to promote Australian surfing overseas and give Cronulla surfers a rare opportunity to shine on the big screen.  Words and photo courtesy Surf City.

Frank Latta Sandshoes 1964

Frank Latta once tried his hand at proffesional boxing but found out the hard way he was much better suited to surfing and shaping. Especially his local hangout the urchin spine covered reef known as Sandshoes. Franks legend at Shoes is still talked about fondly by the old time locals today. The photo below was by Bob Weeks.

Ashley Gee

When Martin Potter called Cronulla home around the early to mid 80’s his influence  began to have an effect on the local kids. Potts was the King of Aerials and pictured below Ash Gee was one of his pupils. Photo Chris Stroh

Bobby Brown Contest 1970

Voodoo Chill

Back in the 70’s my mates and I discovered Voodoo after Brian Pringle took a bunch of us grommets in his car out to this mysterious left that Mr P said was a piece of cake. He ended  up having to rescue most of us. Undetermined we kept at it and as anyone knows when you surf this reef your going to get hammered at one time or another. Getting caught inside by those sneaky sets or wiping out on the triple suck. My worst wipeout or so I thought was when I was caught inside on a size able day. When the sets hit I tried to paddle for the horizon but my board stood motionless as the water drained off the reef it felt like I was going backwards as the rocks below began to stick out. As the first wave of the set jacked. My immediate thought was I’m dead. As the wave pitched I managed  to dive into the trough right under it waiting for the inevitable. Instead I popped out the back like it was a two foot shorey. Ive never felt more relieved. Still copped the rest of the set though and got washed almost to the Reefs. The photo below is typical of what I’m talking about. Unknown about to go over, good luck ….Words and  photos Chris Stroh. Image late 70’s.

Sean Charters

Here’s Sean Charters a strapping young lad promoting his sponsors back in the mid 80’s down at The Alley photo Chris Stroh.

Unknown The Point 1961

Ledgend  surf photographer Bob Weeks captured many of the  classic surf images of the 60’s  era. This is one of the earliest images of Cronulla Point being tamed in 1961.

Occy ’83

Occy was out this day at Midway, this was when he was just starting to blow up riding his Banksy and sponsored by Peak. It was only small but clean and he was surfing a left rip bowl. I swam out and first wave he was right on top of me, I don’t even know if he knew I was there. Anyway the smart thing to do was to dive under the wave or risk having my head taken off. Well I must have been feeling extra stupid this day as he hit the lip I snapped it with my Nikonos as he sailed overhead. When he landed I felt his fins just brush my back as I tried to get away. Another near miss . Words and photos Chris Stroh.

 

Glenn Pringle

Around ’83 when this pic was snapped Glenn was just beginning to make a name for himself. Picking up a sponsor with McCoy and on his Lazor Zap he was competing against the likes of Nicky Wood and Luke Egan and regularly beating them. One of the best competitive surfers to come  out of Cronulla. Elouera Beach photo Chris Stroh.

Shark Island Surfboards

Geoff Solness loved The Island so much he even named his surfboard company and shop after the infamous reef. This shot was taken around ’83. It was a perfect mid size day. Young Occy and Gary Hughes were out and Soulman who was getting some deep pits. Taken from a seq by Chris Stroh