1974 Al Onley & Al Bean at South Point – Updated 4 September 2016

Update from Al Onley 4 Sept 2016.

I love your work. Everyone I have shown your site to have just gone Wow!! However, Gary Greirson’s recollections are not entirely accurate. The year was 1976 (not ’74) and the surfboard I’m holding is Ric Chan’s, that’s why there are so many photos of it. At that time I was doing the sanding at Grierson Surfboards and remember this was the most photographed board in history. Ric loved it, but anything Col Ladhams shaped was great! And I actually came from Cottesloe (not Swanbourne). I think the Kombi in the pics belonged to Ric Chan. Cheers Al Onley.

See what I mean, another photo of Ric’s board.

Photo: 1976 Al Onley with Ric Chan’s Grierson Surfboard shaped by Col Ladhams and sanded by Al Onley. Photo courtesy of Al Onley.

Al. Sorry for the misinformation, it is hard to get good help these days. Thanks for your feedback. Jim King Dunsborough WA.

1974 Al Onley & Al Bean at South Point

In 1974 young metro surfers Al Onley and Al Bean travelled down south to ride their new Colin Ladhams shaped bum back single fin surfboards.

Al Onley was a goofy footer from Swanbourne and Al Bean aged 16/17 was working at Ocean Surf Shop in Perth City.

Gary Greirson – They are Greirson surfboards, the logo featured a peacock fanning its feathers. Al Bean was probably still at Oceans. I may have only just left and was making boards in Osborne Park with Col Ladhams. The year would be late 74 or early 75.

The boy’s water tested their new equipment at South Point and surf photographer Ric Chan was there to capture the action.

Al Onley (goofy foot)

Photo: 1974 Al Onley’s new Colin Ladhams designed Greirson surfboard. Ric Chan pic.