Mick Mackie

Michael Mackie wrenching a powerful cutty at The Point during a contest. Circa 80’s photo Chris Stroh

Greeny Cover ’85

Classic Surfer cover of Gary Green at Blackrock by Peter Simons

Emerald Surfboards

Early 80’s advertisement featuring Wayne Alchin, Brad Mayes and Ross Marshall.

Tracks Nov ’81

The Tracks cover blurb for a story on Cronulla read “The Southsiders are Busting Out”.

 

Craig Naylor

Cronulla has a history of producing fine goofy foots, some blame it on The Alley Rip Bowl. In the 80’s Craig Naylor was one of the cream of the Southside. Pic Stroh

Straight Talk Surfing Open ’82

Rabbit promoting the upcoming Straight Talk Tyres Surfing Open.

 

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

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.

 

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

Grant “Grub” Coulter

As a grom , Grub was a member of the Cronulla Junior Boardriders Club in 1978. The club under the direction of Jim James (Spikes dad) gathered together the best young riders in the area. Every month 20 to 30 of the best groms would gather at The Alley to create a competitive atmosphere for the kids that had been lacking in the area. Grub was one of the standouts  winning a place in the ’79 Schoolboys Titles at Merewether. Over the next decade Grub grew a taste for more powerful wave situations and became a regular Point and Island standout on those big demanding days. This shot Circa 80’s Grants deeply involved negotiating the White Rock section at The Island. photo Chris Stroh