Bong Boys

This is definitely the colourful early 80’s when Occy, Banksy and unknown Alley grom graced the pages of Tracks in a Billabong adv. Photo Uncredited.

 

Familiar Faces

This photo appeared in Tracks early 80’s and was photographed by Peter Simons. It was captioned “Familiar Faces”. The boys are hanging out at Sandshoes. There’s Ross Marshall, Bob Liddell, Steve Griffith and Fig among the crew chilling out.

Greg McMasters ’78

Greg was a lot like Gerry Lopez. He didn’t do a hell of a lot of tricks on a wave but he made it look good just pulling in and he could ride the barrel as good as anyone else at  The Point. This pic taken with my Nikonos was shot on a cloudy day as Greg lines up the next section. Photo Chris Stroh ’78.

 

Peter Simons

Simo below put many of Cronulla surfers on the map during his stint as staff photographer for Tracks throughout the 80’s. Peter was a fine all round photographer who honed his skills on the reefs around Cronulla. He  flooded many issues with Southside images which was a welcome change to seeing just Northside riders and there waves.  Cronulla had so much talent and wave potential and it was Simo who brought it to print.

Tracks January ’80

Unknown gets immortalised on the front cover of the January issue of Tracks ’80 by pulling in at The Point while Dave Shaw happened to be floating in the impact zone with his trusty Nikonos camera.

Sean Charters

Sean Charters was one of the  most talented surfers among  The Alley Boys who on occasions  dragged himself  away from the Rip Bowl if the waves were calling. This day Sean lucked into a solid reef session. Mid 80’s photo Chris Stroh.

Choco

One of the talented kneeboard fanatics of the late 70’s  who was drawn to Cronulla’ Points hollow tubes for obvious reasons, Choco was one of the chosen regular crew who ruled the lineup. Here Simo captured him skirting under the lip  at the infamous Cabbage Patch from the  pages of Tracks early 80’s.

 

Occy @ Home

Occy grew up surfing the reefs around Cronulla and its no wonder that he formed a love for powerful waves right here at home with so much wave grunt on offer. I shot this pic with my Century 650 lens by wading out to the rocks just off from the right which was cut off by the higher tide. This position allowed we to get close enough and a different low angle. Words and pic by Chris Stroh around ’84. 

 

Wanda “Bad Boys”

Craig “Wally” Mackay was part of a group of guys called “The Bay Boys” ( about 15 of them ), who lived in and around Kogarah Bay and surfed Wanda and Greenhills  EVERY weekend from 1974 to 78. Like most kids who were too young to drive Wally and his mates  would get to the beach anyway possible on weekend’s either by lift with a mates parents, or catch a bus to Hurstville railway station, then train to Cronulla and walk to Wanda surfboard, surf mat, and “dagbag” in hand (that’s a long walk).  Best thing about Cronulla train line from the City was if you fell asleep you’d just wake up in Cronulla . The photo taken in 1977  was of Craig ( 17 years old) standing at Greenhills with his G & S ‘tubeshooter” fish tail stinger shaped by Peter Townend. Bought new from G & S factory at Caringbah.

 

Dog Marsh

Richard Dog Marsh was another of Cronulla’s famous Goofyfoots. Right up there in the same company as local legends like Pete Smith, Banksy, Occy, Craig Naylor, Fanga, Greeny, Murph and Andy King to name just a few, Dog was one hell of a cacky foot  tube rider . This shot was taken at one of those reefs that is better left unnamed. Photo Chris Stroh Mid to late 80’s.