By 1974 commercial models of rope/latex tubing and velcro strap were widely available. But urethane was the materials breakthrough, combining strength and flexibility with reduced stretch to minimise high speed returns. Balin were in there early, but the urethane design was patented by Australian David Hattrick in 1977. Reputedly, he’d made a prototype in 1972 while surfing Cactus, motivated no doubt by a disinclination to swim long distances over those deep, dark channels.
In 1975 WA owned Pipelines Legrope Co. was formed by David & Helen Hattrick and US ex pat John Molloy to manufacture and sell legropes. A team of Southwest surfer’s hand made the legropes in a converted shearing shed on a property at Wyadup Valley near Yallingup. The legropes were sold locally and nationally through John Malloy’s Bali-Hai surf shop at Yallingup Beach. In 1979 the company won a major Australian design award.
1979 Pipelines Legrope Co Australian Design Award winner. Media article courtesy of Helen Hattrick
John Ogden photos
John ‘Oggy’ Ogden is a photographer, cinematographer, author, publisher, and educator based in Sydney, Australia. In 1998 he established Cyclops Production Co, an independent publishing company dedicated to telling Australian stories. He is the author of nine books.
Oggy. “Finding myself in Perth in 1975, I enrolled into a degree course at WAIT the following year and started work as the west coast correspondent for Tracks Magazine. My first child was born in Perth in 1977. Doing full time study and working odd jobs to survive left little money to buy camera equipment and taking surf trips south or north, so I had to be a bit inventive to get material for Tracks magazine. Often my photos and stories had little to do with surfing, and I was developing a reputation for quirky images. During the time I worked for Tracks I tended to concentrate on people and their stories.
I have been going through some old WA negs and found these images of David Hattrick co-owner of the now defunct Pipelines Legrope Co.”
1979 David Hattrick, Pipelines legrope factory Wyadup Valley Yallingup.Photo John Ogden.
1979 David Hattrick watching Tom Hoye air spray his new Precision Equip Surfboard at Tom’s surf factory Cowaramup.Photo John Ogden.1979 Dave Hattrick with Pipelines Legrope vehicle in the Southwest.Photo John Ogden.1979 Dave Hattrick competing WA State Titles at Margaret River. Photo John Ogden.1980 July Star Surf Surf Team members Mitch Thorson, Ken Mackenzie & Mick ‘Stomper’ McAuliffe (in Star Surf Team jumpers) showing David Hattrick (in Pipelines jumper) Star Surfboards quiver at SW Inter Club Contest.
Thanks John, for sharing your vintage WA surf images.
By 1974 commercial models of rope/latex tubing and velcro strap were widely available. But urethane was the materials breakthrough, combining strength and flexibility with reduced stretch to minimise high speed returns. Balin were in there early, but the urethane design was patented by Australian David Hattrick in 1977. Reputedly, he’d made a prototype in 1972 while surfing Cactus, motivated no doubt by a disinclination to swim long distances over those deep, dark channels.
In 1975 WA owned Pipelines Legrope Co. was formed by David & Helen Hattrick and US ex pat John Molloy to manufacture and sell legropes. A team of Southwest surfer’s hand made the legropes in a converted shearing shed on a property at Wyadup Valley near Yallingup. The legropes were sold locally and nationally through John Malloy’s Bali-Hai surf shop at Yallingup Beach. In 1979 the company won a major Australian design award.
John Ogden photos
John ‘Oggy’ Ogden is a photographer, cinematographer, author, publisher, and educator based in Sydney, Australia. In 1998 he established Cyclops Production Co, an independent publishing company dedicated to telling Australian stories. He is the author of nine books.
Oggy. “Finding myself in Perth in 1975, I enrolled into a degree course at WAIT the following year and started work as the west coast correspondent for Tracks Magazine. My first child was born in Perth in 1977. Doing full time study and working odd jobs to survive left little money to buy camera equipment and taking surf trips south or north, so I had to be a bit inventive to get material for Tracks magazine. Often my photos and stories had little to do with surfing, and I was developing a reputation for quirky images. During the time I worked for Tracks I tended to concentrate on people and their stories.
I have been going through some old WA negs and found these images of David Hattrick co-owner of the now defunct Pipelines Legrope Co.”
Thanks John, for sharing your vintage WA surf images.
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1975-1980 Pipelines Legrope Co posted 18 Nov 2020
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