In December 1986 the inaugural Malibu Pro Am surf event was held at Trigg Point. The event was sponsored by Malibu Caribbean Rum and Australian Airlines. It was part of the Oz longboard pro circuit and included Classic Malibu, Modern Malibu, Pepsi Invitational Amateur and shortboard events.
Trigg Point local Benton Moran competed in all divisions which included a top line up from the East Coast and WA’s Ian Cairns.
Benton Moran – “I remember winning this one against good opposition from the east by using Shindig’s left after the right closed out pretty easy on a mal. Took Nat and the others best part of the final to realise in the seabreeze there was a little left runner into the Blue Hole. It was part of the longboard pro circuit at the time and was quite a big comp by memory at the point. I remember that I did go in it when the weather forecast was good and thought instead of whinging about a Mal comp, I should just pay my entry and get to surf out there with a few others.
From memory it was a good cash prize for winning the contest.
There was a short board expression session held in conjunction with the longboard contest. I surfed in it as well with Mick McAuliffe, Stewart Bedford-Brown, Dave Mac from memory and maybe Branno and Mitch Thorson”.
The late Peter Matulich (1959-2018) Scarborough surfer, artist, photographer snapped these images of the event.
Image #1. Nat Young NSW and Malibu Pro Am contest officials at Trigg Point. Sponsors advertising in the foreground.Image #2. Nat Young toes on the nose at Trigg Point.Image #3. Warren Thompson and Beach Ranger Fred Annesley chatting with Nat Young.Image #4. Stuart Entwhistle (NSW) cross stepping.Image #5. Stuart Entwhistle leaving the water with Malibu Surf Team surfboard and contest singlet.Image #6. Ian Cairns (WA) pre-contest heat.Image 7. Bear in cover-up.
Gary ‘Gooselegs’ Vaughan “I surfed in that comp in the amateur division. Lent Nat a new Honda from the Dealership where I was sales manager, to visit Rob Conneeley in Margaret River”.
Image #8. Dave Beamish surfing in the Invitational amateur division.Image #9. Unidentified surfer.Image #10 Nat Young in full flight.Image #11. Stuart Entwhistle congratulating WA’s Benton Moran with Nat Young. Benton is wearing his OZ team yellow/green wettie.
Benton – “I reckon if the seabreeze did not come in Stu and Nat would have whipped me!“
Image #12. Malibu Rum beach girl.Image #13. Short Board Expression Session – surfer Benton Moran.Image #14. Short Board Expression Session – surfer Paul Cunningham.Image #15. Short Board Expression Session – surfer Wayne Jaggard.Image #16. Junior and senior surf photographers.
Benton – “These photos show Trigg Point was actually breaking that day, hence my memory of guessing it was going to be good surf that weekend and entering the mal comp”.
Thanks to the late Peter Matulich for leaving us with these images.
In December 1986 the inaugural Malibu Pro Am surf event was held at Trigg Point. The event was sponsored by Malibu Caribbean Rum and Australian Airlines. It was part of the Oz longboard pro circuit and included Classic Malibu, Modern Malibu, Pepsi Invitational Amateur and shortboard events.
Trigg Point local Benton Moran competed in all divisions which included a top line up from the East Coast and WA’s Ian Cairns.
Benton Moran – “I remember winning this one against good opposition from the east by using Shindig’s left after the right closed out pretty easy on a mal. Took Nat and the others best part of the final to realise in the seabreeze there was a little left runner into the Blue Hole. It was part of the longboard pro circuit at the time and was quite a big comp by memory at the point. I remember that I did go in it when the weather forecast was good and thought instead of whinging about a Mal comp, I should just pay my entry and get to surf out there with a few others.
From memory it was a good cash prize for winning the contest.
There was a short board expression session held in conjunction with the longboard contest. I surfed in it as well with Mick McAuliffe, Stewart Bedford-Brown, Dave Mac from memory and maybe Branno and Mitch Thorson”.
The late Peter Matulich (1959-2018) Scarborough surfer, artist, photographer snapped these images of the event.
Gary ‘Gooselegs’ Vaughan “I surfed in that comp in the amateur division. Lent Nat a new Honda from the Dealership where I was sales manager, to visit Rob Conneeley in Margaret River”.
Benton – “I reckon if the seabreeze did not come in Stu and Nat would have whipped me!“
Benton – “These photos show Trigg Point was actually breaking that day, hence my memory of guessing it was going to be good surf that weekend and entering the mal comp”.
Thanks to the late Peter Matulich for leaving us with these images.
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