Chris Iredale

Shark Island maestro Chris Iredale frame grab early 90’s by Stroh

Michael Crisp

Clean gaping Island keg and local charger Crisy is right in the spot. Michael’s been a committed big wave charger who lives for waves like this and a standout since he first appeared out in the Sharky Is lineup back in the 90’s. Image Craig Stroh.

Gerry “Popout” Manion

      Everyone who surfs the Island regularily takes a pounding, even Kelly Slater. Its the nature of the wave, some are perfect barrels and others are mutant ledging beasts that rip boards out from under the most experienced. Guess thats why when you make a gaping tube out there the rush is better than anything. One of the most experienced and go for it chargers in the 70’s and early 80’s was Popout. Gerry was fearless taking on anything the ocean would throw at him. This pic appeared in Surfing Mag in 1980 taken by local photo legend Dave Shaw showing Popout about to cop a solid thrashing on the unforgiving reef.

Chris Iredale

Longtime Cronulla Lifeguard Chris Iredale has spent more time on Cronulla Beach than probably anyone else. He’s witnessed almost every classic swell and always managed to get a surf in while on duty. I remember getting caught inside at Voodoo and loosing the mat I used to shoot photos from which was now heading out to the reefs. He paddled out and got it and booked it in as a surf rescue to help justify why he was out Voodoo in the first place during work hours. In the early ’90s Surfing Life mag asked a bunch of people in the know who was ripping the most at SI. Chris was the most popular vote due to his no guts no glory smooth style approach. Below Chris toying with the Island ..photo Chris Stroh Circa 86-87.

Beaver

One of Occy’s Kurnell mates from back in the day, Beaver was always a standout on the beachies or reefs. This pic having a dig at the Island early 90’s by Craig Stroh.

Darryl “Boogs” Vandepolder

Boogs charges hard.Hanging out with the likes of Rusty , Sparky, Jezza, Franky and Terra its a given. Whether he’s paddling out to the horizon to surf macking 5th Left, Voodoo, or Shark island you can guarantee he will be pulling into some of the biggest pits of the day. A proud Christian, Boogs is quiet by nature and soft spoken but when the reefs start going double overhead he’s turns into a barrel hungry beast. This shot shows him cranking a hard turn out of the Surge bowl a difficult feat on your backside . Photo Craig Stroh.

Scotty Yealand

Our favourite lifeguard Scotty Yealand one of Cronulla Point Boardriders longtime top guns scores a thick throaty dredger at the Island from a 5 shot sequence by Chris Stroh.

Paul Campbell

Paul Campbell is another one of those older Cronulla statesman who charged hard back in their day. Paul was a regullar Island maniac taking it on when it was at its craziest in the late 80’s early ’90s era alongside Mackie and Chris Iredale. These days Paul and his family live at Stanwell Park and recently he suffered every older Surfers worst nightmare having a heart attack in the surf. Luckily he survived. Pauls daughter Rach is now making her name for herself as one of Australias most promising girl surfers. This pic of Peter charging late 80’s by Chris Stroh.

Soulman

This d/p sequence appeared in the 1980 June issue of Surfer Magazine of the late Geoff Solness scoring a bomb on a solid and mean day at The Island. Soulman was one of the regular standouts around this time. I was out this day taking photos with my nikonos when this wave came through it was the scariest and biggest Island pit I had ever seen up to that point and after snapping my shot I bolted for the horizon. Soulman was cool as a cucumber and unfazed by the lip going square. Notice the red Rip Curl wetsuit. This was the very beginning of 80’s fluro and no longer in the stone-age when it was compulsory to wear  black wetties and ride white surfboards only. Photos Darryl Jones.

Occy Cover ’88

This Island barrel shot of Occy was on the cover of Nov/Dec Waves magazine in ’88. It was part of a 5 shot sequence.Its one of my favourite photographs for 2 reasons. I remember seeing  Occy take off inside so I swam pretty deep to make sure I didnt miss any of it. To deep in fact, I ended up getting sucked back over and dragged across the reef. When I came up I was on the otherside of the Island. At least I scored the cover with it and that was my first real Island shakedown, but it was worth it.   photo Chris Stroh