Former WA surfboard manufacturer Tom Blaxell recently returned from a surf trip to the Maldives. While there he met up with former World Surfing Champion Bernard ‘Midget’ Farrelly from NSW.
Photo: 2015 Tom & Midget in the Maldives. Photo by Dara from Atoll Adventures.
Tom: “We had great waves and I’m told some of the biggest swell to come through this year. Amongst the usual suspects like Russ Parry, Al Bean and Baz Young, I ran into Midget Farrelly who by coincidence shares some common things with me. When he won the very first World Surfing Title in 1964, it was the year I made my first board (at the age of 14). Part of the inspiration for that was a book my Dad gave me, written by Midget called “This Surfing Life“. It was all about how surfing was not just a passing craze, but an all-consuming passion that engulfs your life and your outlook on it. And here we are 50 years later still doing it and enjoying it. 1964 also happened to be the year surfing WA (then WASRA) was founded, and when I was President in 1994, we had a big reunion gig at the Continental Hotel in Claremont to celebrate WASRA’s 30th anniversary. Midget was invited over and was a keynote speaker at the event.”
Photo: 2015 Tom surfing in the Maldives. Photo by Dara from Atoll Adventures.
Photo: 2015 Al Bean ripping in the Maldives. Photo by Dara from Atoll Adventures.
Photo: 2015 Baz Young cuttie in the Maldives. Photo by Dara from Atoll Adventures.
Former WA surfboard manufacturer Tom Blaxell recently returned from a surf trip to the Maldives. While there he met up with former World Surfing Champion Bernard ‘Midget’ Farrelly from NSW.
Photo: 2015 Tom & Midget in the Maldives. Photo by Dara from Atoll Adventures.
Tom: “We had great waves and I’m told some of the biggest swell to come through this year. Amongst the usual suspects like Russ Parry, Al Bean and Baz Young, I ran into Midget Farrelly who by coincidence shares some common things with me. When he won the very first World Surfing Title in 1964, it was the year I made my first board (at the age of 14). Part of the inspiration for that was a book my Dad gave me, written by Midget called “This Surfing Life“. It was all about how surfing was not just a passing craze, but an all-consuming passion that engulfs your life and your outlook on it. And here we are 50 years later still doing it and enjoying it.
1964 also happened to be the year surfing WA (then WASRA) was founded, and when I was President in 1994, we had a big reunion gig at the Continental Hotel in Claremont to celebrate WASRA’s 30th anniversary. Midget was invited over and was a keynote speaker at the event.”
Photo: 2015 Tom surfing in the Maldives. Photo by Dara from Atoll Adventures.
Photo: 2015 Al Bean ripping in the Maldives. Photo by Dara from Atoll Adventures.
Photo: 2015 Baz Young cuttie in the Maldives. Photo by Dara from Atoll Adventures.
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