In 1963 Daily News surf journalist Alan McIntosh (now deceased) published an article on the ‘birth of board riding in WA’.
The article credits WA speed car driver, garage owner and sportsman Aubrey Melrose with being the first to surf Cottesloe in 1934 on a big heavy board made in the Eastern States. Albert ‘Bill’ Hall built the first board in WA. Hall’s boards were long, heavy ‘bananas’ made of light framework covered by canvas. Most boards used after 1934 were built by Hall. By 1939 most Cottesloe regulars were using smaller boards of about 9’6” made of an imported material resembling fiberglass.
Early Cottesloe surfers stood on the surf skis and used a paddle attached to a rope to catch and ride waves.
1963 Alan McIntosh’s ‘Talking Surf’ column in the Daily News. Part 1 of 3.1963 Alan McIntosh’s ‘Talking Surf’ column in the Daily News. Part 2 of 3.
This extract includes a weekend surf report for WA surfers.
1963 Alan McIntosh’s ‘Talking Surf’ column in the Daily News. Part 3 of 3.1938 Cottesloe surf skiers at Beach Street Cottesloe. Photographer unknown.Circa 1946 Robert Smyth (1917-2016) with his surf ski (painted white) at Cottesloe Beach. Photo courtesy of Steve’s daughter Sue Smyth.
Cottesloe’s early surf skis were precursors to today’s Stand Up Paddle (SUP) boards in WA.
In 1963 Daily News surf journalist Alan McIntosh (now deceased) published an article on the ‘birth of board riding in WA’.
The article credits WA speed car driver, garage owner and sportsman Aubrey Melrose with being the first to surf Cottesloe in 1934 on a big heavy board made in the Eastern States. Albert ‘Bill’ Hall built the first board in WA. Hall’s boards were long, heavy ‘bananas’ made of light framework covered by canvas. Most boards used after 1934 were built by Hall. By 1939 most Cottesloe regulars were using smaller boards of about 9’6” made of an imported material resembling fiberglass.
Early Cottesloe surfers stood on the surf skis and used a paddle attached to a rope to catch and ride waves.
This extract includes a weekend surf report for WA surfers.
Cottesloe’s early surf skis were precursors to today’s Stand Up Paddle (SUP) boards in WA.
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