Gary Hughes

Cronulla Point in the 70’s and 3 names first come to mind, Jim Banks, Popout and Garry Hughes.  Hughsey was the rock n roll star that laid down some big performances when the Point was at its cracking best. As the photo belows shows he was more than just a big barrel rider. Big reo photo taken by Steve Core.

Gary Hughes

Classic pic from The Point of Gary Hughes taking the drop around 1976 photo by Steve Core.

Terry Steen Cronulla Point ’65

Cronulla Point has always been a haven for surfboard riders since the earliest days. In the early  60’s it was Gary Birdsall, Bobby Brown, Ray “Dags”Greenaway and Graham Ferris that first conquered the difficult tube on their long boards. As boards got a few feet shorter and more maneuverable riders like Terry Steen pictured below were able to angle their boards and get barreled more regularly. Water shots in ’65 were quite rare so this shot taken by Bob Weeks was a classic back then and still one now. From Surfabout Magazine.

Gary Hughes

In the mid to late 70’s a young surfer from San Souci called Gary Hughes  name was synonymous with Cronulla Point. At the time The Point had become the focal point of Southside surfing. The big open barrels made great water photos and locals photographers like Steve Core who shot the pic below captured the intense barrels that had been overlooked for many years after Jack Edens mag Surfabout was shelved in the late 60’s. Hughsey was a standout when the Point was at its heaviest but he also had plenty of competition back in those days for waves which helped push performance levels up a few notches.  This photo of a late drop by Gary appeared in Surf Magazine in 1977.

 

Bill Penrue

This pic of taken at The Point appeared in Surfabout magazine in ’63. The caption read “Bill Penrue locked in a transperent early morning wave and on the verge of being wiped out. A local rider keeps a wary eye on Bill”. Photo by legendary surf photographer Bob Weeks.

Peter Townend ’78

PT was a regular sight surfing at The Point and Sandshoes in the mid 70’s. Shaping his board models out of G&S  saw the 1976 World Champ hitting the local spots when he wasn’t on tour. These photos were taken in ’78 when the Coke Cola Surfabout rolled into town. It was man on man at The Point. Back in PT’s pink days. Photo Rob King.

 

Glen Vickers

January 1978 local Cronulla surfer Glen Vickers makes the most of a classic year for southerly swells with a day at The Point photo Rob King.

 

 

 

Shaun Smith / Smurf

Shaun Smith (Smurf) speed trimming out Cronulla Point 1977 one of the best Cronulla Goofy foots throughout the 70’s and beyond photo Rob King.

Larry Cohen

Larry Cohen at Cronulla Point photo taken by Darryl Menzies sometime in the mid 70s. The board was a yellow Emerald with red swirls on the deck. Shaped by  good mate Steve (Griffo) Griffiths.

 

Gary Birdsall The Point ’61