In August 1971 surfers George Simpson, Mick Pearce & Mark Rudenberg discovered Three Bears surf break at Kabbijgup Beach. The boys had seen waves breaking along the cliffs north of Yallingup and walked in from Sugarloaf Rock to find the surf break.
American expatriate surfboard shaper the late Tom Hoye named it MGM after the initials of the three guys who discovered the place, but later Perth guys renamed it Three Bears after the three surf breaks Baby’s, Mama’s & Papa’s.
Tom was the first surfer to drive into Bears. He forged a track to Bears from his backyard in Dunsborough, along paddocks and fire breaks to connect with the beach track behind d’Espeisses’ property.
Circa ‘72 Tom and Craig Brent-White used their 4WD’s to create a rough track to Bears through coastal scrub land at Yallingup. In ‘73 Ralph Redman used his 4WD to improve the alignment of the coastal track from Yallingup hill.
Then the floodgates opened and Bears became an established surf location.
This is a collection of 1970s Bears photos from various photographers.
1976 Bears (MGM) local lads with their single fin surfboards. Photo Ken MacKenzie. L-R Ronnie Ratshit, Ken MacKenzie, Bruce Elliott & Bill Gibson.1976 Bill Gibson re-entry Bears (MGM) Photo Ken Mackenzie1976 Late Summer offshores at Cape Naturaliste. Photo Gary Gibbon1976 John Baldock surfing Bears. Photo Gary Gibbon1976 Mark Moody (RIP) backhand cover-up Bears. Photo Gary Gibbon 1976 Steve Carroll surfing Bears. Photo Gary Gibbon.1970s Dave Seward surfing solid Mama’s. Photo Andy Jones1970s Ralph Redman surfing solid Bears. Photo Andy Jones.1976 Steele George, Joe Fimmano & Graham Waddellwith a view ofBears line-up. Photo Jim King
3Bears Licence Plate auction
Caves House Hotel at Yallingup is holding a 3Bears Licence Plate Silent Auction and Fund Raiser.
Bidding ends 4pm Sun 14 April. Submit your bids at the Caves House Long Bar.
All proceeds will be donated to the Disabled Surfers Association and the Dunsborough Historical Society.
In August 1971 surfers George Simpson, Mick Pearce & Mark Rudenberg discovered Three Bears surf break at Kabbijgup Beach. The boys had seen waves breaking along the cliffs north of Yallingup and walked in from Sugarloaf Rock to find the surf break.
American expatriate surfboard shaper the late Tom Hoye named it MGM after the initials of the three guys who discovered the place, but later Perth guys renamed it Three Bears after the three surf breaks Baby’s, Mama’s & Papa’s.
Tom was the first surfer to drive into Bears. He forged a track to Bears from his backyard in Dunsborough, along paddocks and fire breaks to connect with the beach track behind d’Espeisses’ property.
Circa ‘72 Tom and Craig Brent-White used their 4WD’s to create a rough track to Bears through coastal scrub land at Yallingup. In ‘73 Ralph Redman used his 4WD to improve the alignment of the coastal track from Yallingup hill.
Then the floodgates opened and Bears became an established surf location.
This is a collection of 1970s Bears photos from various photographers.
L-R Ronnie Ratshit, Ken MacKenzie, Bruce Elliott & Bill Gibson.
3Bears Licence Plate auction
Caves House Hotel at Yallingup is holding a 3Bears Licence Plate Silent Auction and Fund Raiser.
Bidding ends 4pm Sun 14 April. Submit your bids at the Caves House Long Bar.
All proceeds will be donated to the Disabled Surfers Association and the Dunsborough Historical Society.
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Three Bears surf break & track in the 70s posted 9 Nov 2016
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