Kneeboarder S.I. ’77.

This day back in  ’77 only one kneeboarder dared ventured out into an empty lineup. We think it might be Ross Bullard who regularily charged  the Island as hard as anyone and usually he was out there on his own. Photo by Rob King.

Pete Smith ’78.

This sequence was taken in November 1978 on a Southern Comfort team expedition down the South Coast. Pipe was firing and so was Smithy. Both images by Rob King.

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.

The Point Pipe.

This pic was taken in ’82 of Nat leaving the surf at The Point after a celebrity heat with Wayne Lynch and Peter Drouyn during a pro comp. In the background you can see one of the old drain pipes, from memory I think there was a smaller one as well . During the pre leg rope days your board could get washed up inside the pipe and to get it out was sketchy with the walls covered in barnacles and the surging waves made it very scary these days they are blocked. pic Stroh

Emerald Adv ’83.

Emerald Adv. featuring Jim Banks boards ’83.

Frank Latta @ Sandshoes

Frank ruled at Sandshoes in the late 60’s and early 70’s period. Shoes attracted a lot of hot surfers over the years  including the ’76 World Champ PT when he spent time in Cronulla. But as far as longboards go Frank was the king always stylish and practical and when boards got shorter he still ruled the takeoff spot. Not sure who took the pics below but they were from Matt Cook and his Sandshoes Facebook site.

Kev Cassidy

Another underground talented goofyfoot who always seemed to manage to be in the right place at the right time especially the Island everytime it broke. This pic of Kevin was snapped at Blackrock mid 80’s. Photo Stroh

Rusty Moran

Rusty was sponsored by Rusty Surfboards and always wore a Gath Helmet when he first began making a name for himself. He quickly earned a rep as a big wave chaser. Always turning up when the swells were cordaroy to the horizon. Tales often circulated around about him how he liked to swim to The Reefs and back from Cronulla Point to get fit and night surfing at KP using a generator and flood lights. Even in Hawaii he was well respected for his wave charging at Waimea and the outside cloud breaks. This image of Rusty pulling into a Suckrock cave by Craig Stroh

Luke Mulhall

Luke was one of The Point regulars in the late 70’s and early 80s. He was known as a gutsy charger and a bit of a wave enforcer out there always vocal and loud towards the non locals. Luke made a name for himself when his image riding a solid Point barrel was used on a Sunkist Orange Juice advertisement that appeared in milkbars all around Australia. This pic of Luke driving through a 1st Reef tube by Chris Stroh mid 80’s