Former Dee Why, Sydney surfer Barry King moved to WA with his parents in 1963. He had been surfing for three years and was a talented goofy footer.
In Perth he joined the City Beach Surfriders Club and with Terry Jacks and other top surfers formed a strong competitive board club. Barry spent many weekends down south searching for good wave conditions.
Editor’s note: My brother Bruce and I share the same surname and were also members of City Beach Surfriders club in the 60s, but we are not related to this Barry King.
Photo: 1963 Barry King surfing north side of City Beach groyne. Mick Lindsay pic.
In 1964 Barry (age 16) won the Junior title at WA’s inaugural State Surfing Championships held at Yallingup. He beat his City Beach club mate Brian Boynes and North Coast’s Dick White. City Beach’s Zac Kochanowitsch won the Open Mens title at the same contest.
Photo: 1964 Barry (on the right with towel) on Yallingup beach with supporters. The judge’s scaffolding tower set up on the reef can be seen in the background. Unidentified photographer.
Image: 1964 Media coverage of WA Surfboard Championships at Yallingup. Image courtesy of WA Newspapers.
Photo: 1964 City Beach finalists at State Surfing Championships at Yallingup. Ernie Potter pic.
L-R Barry King (Junior Champ), Zac Kochanowitsch (Open Mens champ) and Brian Boynes (runner-up Juniors).
Photo: 1964 Barry King and Zac Kochanowitsch with their trophies at State Surfing Championships sponsored by Ampol at Yallingup. Photo courtesy of WA Newspapers.
Image: 1964 WA State Champs leave for World surfing championships in Sydney. Image courtesy of WA Newspapers.
In the mid 60s Barry King left WA and returned to NSW where he worked in the surf industry.
In 1977 John Witzig’s SeaNotes surf magazine published a story on Barry King (29 years old) surfer/shaper in NSW with photos by renowned surf photographer Peter Crawford.
Image: 1977 Barry King’s surfing article courtesy of SeaNotes surf mag No.2.
Barry still lives on the East Coast.
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