Night Surfing ’84

1984 Elouera Beach hosted the 2mmm Night Surfing Spectacular with $5000 prize money for the Top 16 surfers.It was held over two nights, the first was a practice session allowing locals and pro’s a chance to test out the lights. The night lights made things difficult at times as occasional glare blindness and black spots made it difficult to adjust too at times. Night 2 saw a humongous crowd turn up to see the night show evolve. Conditions were tiny and mid way through the comp a southerly buster hit causing all sorts of trouble. Unfortunately it would be a one off event after the council banned future night events due to crowd problems. Below Tom Curren in action on the practice night from Waves Magazine photo Peter Crawford.

Spike James

Richard “Spike”James  excelled at The Point on those mean days and earned a reputation as one of the areas best tube riders during his time in Cronulla throughout the 80’s before moving North. Photo Stroh late 80’s

Richard Herbert

Herbie was one of Cronulla’s true characters, he was quick with the one liners and a truly funny bastard. He was also a damn fine tube rider and especially at The Point where this photo was taken on a solid day sometime in the mid 80’s. Absolute shame  he was taken so young; Photo Stroh

Craig Naylor ’80

Craig Naylor used to live downstairs from me in Burke rd so I often managed to hook up a shoot whenever he was heading out. On this day it was only small but Craig was making it look better that it was, this stylish MR turn must have been shot around 1980 at The Alley. Photo Stroh

Murph

In the mid 80’s the late Andrew Murphy was the hot goofyfoot kid that had all eyes watching him rise up the ranks and dominating local comps. Photo Stroh

Pro’s Hit Town

Whenever the World Tour rocked into Cronulla on a regular basis throughout the 80’s most  locals looked forward to seeing the the worlds best tear up the local breaks. During the ’85 Beaurapaires the Island fired and big Willy Morris from California was right on it. Photo Simmo.

Banksy ’83

Before Occy, Greeny and Dog made their charge at the World Tour, Jim Banks almost single handed had been flying the flag as Cronulla’s main pro rider in the late 70’s and early 80’s. Jim was a regular  Top 16  performer as well as a respected shaper before he got burnt out with the contest grind and hit the travel road pioneering new surf breaks around the world. This photo was taken around ’83 at Pipeline.

Ross Marshall

Shot of Ross Marshal from the early 80’s jamming off the top on a South Coast day mission for Surfing World photo Ian Borland.

Puberty Blues Frames.

2 classic frames from the 1981 movie Puberty Blues.

 

Shaun Smith Wanda  wearing his familiar red sluggos .

Hell groms Richard James , Occy, M.Jackson and friend heckle  the girls with a “Chicks cant surf ” writeoff.

Gary Green Logo Design

Here’s Gary Greens custom board logo for Force 9 shaped by Wayne Roach. Image courtesy Pods for Primates.