Gary Birdsall

Gary Birdsall was Cronulla’s first known surf star when pictures of him charging sizeable Cronulla Point began regularily appearing in the media.

Larry Cohen ’67

 I first tried surfing when I was about 9 years old on my cousin’s 9ft 6″ Norm Casey D Fin Malibu Gun. When he wasn’t around I would sneak down and drag it out from under their house and drag it down the beach. (He never caught me). I pestered my old man for a board of my own for about 3 years and then in early 1967 he cracked and bought me a 2nd hand Scott Dillon Stringerless V Bottom “Stubby”. Breakthrough !!!!

It was 8ft long by 24 inches wide and I couldn’t even get my arm around it. It was the best thing I had ever had in my entire life. Nothing I owned or wanted could compare with that board, it was like a piece of magic to me. I kept it in my bedroom where I could just look at it anytime. The Vee Bottom was hard to surf on but way better than my cousin’s old Malibu “plank”. It was like an aircraft carrier to stand on, but I learned to trim and turn it. A surf would last about 4 hours in those days.

After about a year (& more pestering) we traded it in on a Jackson 7ft 8″ double ender pintail shaped by Gordon Merchant. The Jacko was noticeably easier to turn, trim and manoeuvre, and it was faster along the walls of those Cronulla Beach sandbank shooters. I could actually get my arm around the pintail to carry it….Larry Cohen

 

Nigel Dwyer

Nigel was born in Cronulla and began surfing at age 15 as part of the Cronulla Surf Lifesavers Club. By age 19 he was doing ding repairs at Jackson Surfboards where he began learning every aspect of the surfboard manufacturing trade under Jacko’s guidance. In ’63 Nigel moved to New Zealand and started up Del Surfboards in New Plymouth where he his still running the factory today. Pictured below Nigel Dwyer glassing at Norm Caseys factory at Taren point early 60’s.

 

Cronulla Crew ’64

The Cronulla crew 1960. From Back – John Coleman, Gitto, Nicko, Nigel Dwyer & Stud in front. Ulladulla trip  image from the lens of photographer legend Bob Weeks

Surfboard Rego

Ever  wonder why Clubbies and Surfers have had a long going  rivalry. Back in 1965 Councils enforced surfboard registration at City beaches. Riders had to pay a fee to use their surfboards at the beach. Without an official rego sticker the Clubbies would confiscate your board.This along with early rules of compulsory membership to the clubs for all surfers and putting the flags on the best banks developed conflict and often bad vibes back in the longboard days. That rivalry still exists at some beaches even today. 

 

Norm Casey Surfboards

One of the original surfboard manufacturers on the south-side. Located at Rockdale in 1960 the factory eventually moved to Taren Point where Gary Birdsall was part of the team. Peter Clarke eventually took over the factory in the mid 60’s and changed the name. Below a 1960 9ft 2 inch Norm Casey double wooden stringer and the board decal from around that time.

Sandshoes ’64

Surfabout Vol 1 No 4 lifts the lid on a little secret spot called Sandshoes on the Southside and introduces local ripper Frank Latta. Pics by Jack Eden.

G&S Shaped by Bob Brown

60’s circa  Malibu Surfboard, made by Bob Brown (the blonde one not Bobby), Decal under the glass says “STRINGLESS Gordon Smith”.It measure 7 foot six inches and has big old Floral Fin.

Peter Clarke Surfboard

VINTAGE-PETER-CLARKE-TRACKER-SAFE-SET-SINGLE-FIN-68-69.

G&S Logo 1969