Greg Melhuish

Check out this Vegemite Kid adv. from around 1980. The surfer is Greg Magu Melhuish however the photo has been reversed surfing Cronulla Point photo Greg Button.

Greeny Surfing World Cover

Surfing World Issue 193 Gary Green scores the cover with his fins on display photo Bruce Channon.

 

Jim Banks

Jim Banks built a reputation as a fearless reef rider by charging waves like the notorious Shark Island on his backside. During the 70’s and 80’s the Island was regarded as one if not the most feared waves in Oz and the world. Banksy rode the Island as good as any of the natural foots of the time and with his back to the wall he got just as deep. This shot flying out of the bowl ran in Waves magazine around ’83.

 

Paul Armstrong – Express

Paul Armstrong spent his early years shaping at Gordon and Smith before busting out on his own  in the mid to late 80’s and starting Express Surfboards on the highway at Engadine. Paul specialised in Kneeboards as well as custom standup shapes with Michael Mackie  on the team as well. Today Paul has moved Express back to Taren Point and is still producing quality custom shapes. Below  Pauls original custom Express logo. 

 

Occy Wins Trials ’85

Mid 80’s Occy was on fire. He was the first Cronulla rider since Bobby Brown to really have a major impact on competitive surfing. This shot winning the Beaurepaires Trials at Elouera aged 17.

Rod Katis

Rod Katis puting his own custom shape G&S Katzap through its paces at Elouera seq Stroh Circa 80’s

Popout

Gerry Popout Manion was a lucky grom who had the rare distinction to be allowed to sit out the back with all the Point heavies and regulars. The only trouble was he could only take the waves that no one wanted which usually meant a solid pounding. After a while of taking anything that came his way his go for it nature impressed the older guys and he ended up becoming one of the boys and taking the cream of the sets. Photo Stroh Circa 80’s.

 

Glenn Pringle ’80

Eloura beach evergreen , Glenn Pringle told me the other day that he reckons he’s the most unstylish surfer when it comes to fashion,clothes etc. Well take a look at this very early 80’s shot of the Pring, still a micro grom he’s pulling a classic snow ski move in the Elouera shorey. Now thats styling. Maybe he can coach this one to his surf school groms Photo Chris Stroh.

Michael Action Jackson

Heres the custom shape logo that surfer/ shaper Michael Jackson was using at Force 9 in the 80’s.

 

Ross Marshall

Ross Marshall was part of the Windensea Club which was a new highly competitive crew of local young surfers in the late 70’s .After a drought of competition success Ross an his mates began making inroads on the Northside domination of the contest scene. It was Ross who’s success first inspired the likes of the next generation grommets which included Occy. These days Ross lives up and Kingscliff, still ripping and riding for Kirra Boardriders club along with his son and daughter as well as  working  in the board industry.This shot was taken around Cronulla around 1980 prior to him moving north. Photo Chris Stroh