Gary Hughes

Gary Hughes scores one of his first profiles in Surfing World in an article shot and written by Peter Simons Circa 70’s.

Gary Hughes

Hughsey hits it  for the early and braves it in his sluggos.Photo The Point ’81 by Chris Stroh

Gary Hughes

Mid 70’s Gary Hughes was the rising star at Cronulla Point, taking off deep and charging the heaviest barrels Cronulla’s reefs could serve up. Peter Simmons was the instigator on this Hughsey profile  which appeared in Surfing World giving the young local talent some well earned publicity. In the latest issue Aug 2011 Tracks theres a shot and brief writeup about Gazza still ripping it up in Puerto Escondido. Pics by Simmo

Gary Hughes Helmet.

After a near fatal wipeout in Hawaii at Sunset , Gary Hughes was speared in the top of the head by another surfers loose board. He was forced to wear a helmet for a while to prevent further injury plus he had a metal plate inserted into his skull. Not to be detered Gazza was soon back out there when this shot by Dave Shaw was taken at The Point in the late 70’s.

Gary Hughes

Classic Gary Hughes Point barrel from ’77 taken by Dave Shaw for Steve Cores magazine called Surf.

Gary Hughes Injured

In the late 70’s Cronulla Point standout Gary Hughes embarked on his secong Hawaiian mission. The previous year he was forced out of the water early due to a spleen injury but this year Hughesy was lucky to come out alive. While surfing Sunset ,Gary got speared in the head by a loose board. The injury left a gaping hole and he was rushed to hospital by helicopter for micro surgery to repair the near fatal wound. The injury put the breaks on Gary’s pro career as he was out of the water for months on end and when he returned he was forced to wear a helmet for safety until fully healed. Below Gary from a Tracks article with shaved head and scars.

Gary Hughes @ SI

 Gary ruled the Shark Island lineup and had that wave wired during the 70’s. Along with Popout, Banksy and Soulman he was one of the first to really take it on. This pic he’s balls deep in a clean Island gem. Photo Stroh

Gary Hughes 360

This shot of Gary Hughes was taken in April ’81 at The  Point with a crappy mirror lens. This was taken in the Larry Bertlemann era of twin fin, rip and tear. Hughsy in his sluggos is riding a twinny and busted this threesixty late one arvo on a fun size day. When given a print of  this shot at the time he said it was his favourite pic and framed it on his loungeroom wall. It ended up getting ripped to shreds by a jealous girlfriend. So here it is again decades later.   Photo Chris Stroh

Gary Hughes @ The Point

Hughesy was one of the rising stars from Cronulla in the latter half of the Seventys. He was renoun for his deep stylish go for it tube riding at The Point. Gary’s career was put on hold after he wiped out at Sunset in Hawaii and copped another riders loose board fin to his skull. He was rushed to hospital by helicopter and was lucky not to have died. This shot was taken in 81 after he fully recovered.Still stylin.      pic Stroh.

Gary Hughes and the Silent Types