The Point 60’s

The Point was the first break on the Southside to attract the best big wave riders from Cronulla. Names like Jacko, Gitto, Birdsall, Bobby Brown, Nigel Dwyer were just a few of the standouts in the late 50’s and 60’s when this shot was taken.

Popout

In the 70’s Gerry Popout Manion worked his way into the lineup at The Point as a young grub picking off the odd closeout set that  none of the regulars wanted to being the the main man to watch when the waves were maxing in the space of several winters. Still going strong today. This shot late 70’s by Chris Stroh

Smurf

Shaun Smith has long been an underground legend around the beaches and reefs of Cronulla as far back as the  70’s. Smurf excelled at big Point on his backhand so it was no surprise in 1985 he won the first Cronulla Point Boardriders club championship.

 

 

Peter Townend at The Point.

When Peter Townend moved to Cronulla from The Gold Coast around ’73 he left his mark when began surfing The Point. PT soon had the place wired and helped inspire many locals with his tube performances. This shot of PT was taken in ’75 the following year he became Pro Surfing’s first tour champion. Photo Hugh McLeod.

Gerry Manion ’79

Gerry Manion was  only slightly built but it did not stand in his way when it came to Cronulla Point. From the crowds to the biggest 2nd reef days Popout was the man to watch. This shot taken by Tim Vanderlaan in May ’79.

Gary Hughes ’79

May ’79 Cronulla Point was being hit with a good swell  and Gary Hughes was standing out from the crowd. Photo taken by Tim Vanderlaan with a Nikonos.

1963 Surfabout Vol 1 No 5

Jack Edens magazine Surfabout had regular features on Cronulla this issue was no different with  a 3 page article and a front cover on the Soutshide crew featuring Terry Steen, Gary Birsall, Ian Nolan, Jacko and Dave “Cancer”Coppelson from a session at The Point. Bob Weeks paddled out on a board and took the shots from the channel with his Pentax camera and no housing.

 

 

Richard Herbert

Herbie shaped under the Huzza Wuzza custom  label for surfboard brands like G&S, Waterforce and Emerald and had a strong following around Cronulla. He was a regular standout at The Point and Shark Island in the 70’s and 80’s and had a reputation for charging. He passed away due to health problems in 2006. Below surfing First Reef on a small sucky day around ’79 photo Chris Stroh.

Gary Hughes ’77

In the 70’s Cronulla surfers owed a lot of thanks to Steve Core who through his photography, Surf magazine and movies gave local riders like the photo he took of Gary Hughes at The Point below a kick start to their surfing careers.

 

The Point

Early 70’s double spread of The Point from Surfing World photo unknown taken by Steve Scherrine.