Chris Iredale

In the 80’s Chris Iredale was at the peak of his surfing powers and he was especially at his best at getting barreled at Shark Island on the biggest and heaviest days. Back then the scores of boogies were far and few and Chris had his big wave line down and made the deadly slabs look easy to make. Anyone who has surfed the Island when its slabbing knows how difficult it is to ride this wave. Chris had it mastered. Photo Tim Vanderlaan.

Big Wednesday at Shark Island

When the Island or Point pumps the headland acts as a natural arena and it allows the perfect vantage point to watch all the action. Most big swells a large crowd will gather and it creates that Big Wednesday type feel about it. This swell in the early 90’s actually hit on a Wednesday and Chris Iredale was there to make the most of it. Story appeared in  Tracks and photographed by Chris Stroh

Grant Coulter

Every 5 to 10 years a new crew of underground chargers seem to surface and rise to the challenge. In the mid to late 80’s it was Grub Coulter, Chris Iredale, Richard James, Mark Ryan,Kev Cassidy,Michael Mackie and several others who took on Shark Island with a fearless one foot in the grave approach. At the time The Island was still regarded as the heaviest barrel in Australia. This day Grub was notching up some hell pits. Photo Chris Stroh.

Jim Banks

Jim Banks was not the first goofyfoot to surf Shark Island but he was at the time by far the best.  Jim charging the notoriously heavy reef was pretty full on going just as hard as the regular foots and getting just as deep. Photos like this classic image by Dave Shaw taken in ’77 was cutting edge back then.

Larry Cohen

Larry has been a well known identity in the Cronulla surfing community since the mid 60’s. The day this pic was taken was the same day Geoff Solness scored the cover shot to Nat Youngs History of Surfing in the red rip curl steamer. Larry scored a few that winters day in 1980. It was big and heavy and only a few out. The photo of Larry below appeared in one of the US mags.

17th June 2012 Island Pumps for OX

 

Steve Robertson

In the mid 7os surfer Steve Robertson and photographer Bruce Sladden connected at Shark Island resulting in photos printed in Surfing World. These were some of the first Island ridden shots ever run.

 

Terapi Richmond

Throughout the 90’s and 2000’s decades Terapi Richmond has seen the inside of more Shark Island barrels than probably anyone else. Rarely a swell passes by without  his presence in the lineup making the impossible look easy, and it doesn’t appear he is slowing down anytime soon. 

Boogs

Ever wonder where Daryl got the knickname Boogs  from. It was his brother who  gave him the title after young Daryl wore a wetsuit with green arms.”Looks like boogies” he remarked and the name has stuck ever since. This Island shot of Boogs on his usual snot green board taken at The Island Circa 2000s.

 

Kev Cassidy

Before Boogs and Jezza began their backhand assault on Shark Island and Banksy was mostly off overseas surfing some exotic reef location Kevin Cassidy was the standout goofyfoot taking on the Islands notorious steps and ledges. Its hard enough front-side when the wall begins to buckle and warp but for Kev the rewards were worth the occasional thumping. This photo taken mid to late 80’s shows Kevin hitting some hurdles the type of which make the Island so challenging, photo by Chris Stroh.