***Updated 1 Aug 2024*** added link to Windrider (1986) – Trailer featuring windsurfing by Dave Sheen
Former Dunsborough resident Dave Sheen is an accomplished ocean-man.
At 19 Dave developed a great love for wave sailing (windsurfing) and he excelled at the sport, going on to join the world pro-tour. Dave claimed three Australian national titles and lived for years in the windsurfing paradise of Maui, Hawaii, where he trained and competed. Nowadays splitting his watersport time between surfing, kitesurfing, windsurfing, SUP foiling, standup paddle boarding, free diving and catamaran sailing he is a true ocean-man. Source Whale DIscoveries Tonga.
Dave Sheen. “Tom Hoye was a true legend who walked the talk here’s a pic of me as one very stoked grommet with a new 5’8 shooter”.
1978 Dave Sheen (age 14) with his new 5’8 Tom Hoye shooter. Photo Dave Sheen.1980 Dave Sheen surfing Boneyards on Vance’s surfboard. Photo Peter Matulich.1980 Dave Sheen surfing Boneyards on Vance’s surfboard. Photo Peter Matulich.
Mark ‘Hillsy’ Hills.“Surfside Board Riders Club members Neil Strong and Dave Sheen set up the first surf shop in Dunsborough centro, Dunsborough Sail and Surf Supply in the 80s. Formerly Bruce & Sue Nicholson’s tackle shop. Strongy later changed the shop name to Country Waves.”
1981 Dunsborough Sail & Surf Supply Naturaliste Tce with Strongy’s red Subaru parked out front. Image courtesy Mark Hills.
Hillsy. “I remember our first intra-contest at Bears. The waves got too big, so the finals were moved to the beachie at Smith Beach. In the finals the waves were solid and Dave Sheen burst his ear drum on a wipe-out. My new beach towel was used to stem the bleeding and the final was aborted before I caught a wave🙂.”
1982 Hillsy competing at Bears. Photo Dave Sheen.1988 Dave Sheen surfing Mama Bears. Photo by the late Peter Matulich.2010 Dave Sheen surfing GL shaped Rusty 8ft 6in gun board at Yallingup. Photo by the late Loz Smith.
In 2022 after nearly 40 years, former members of the 1980s Surfside Board Riders Club Dave ‘Sheenie’ Sheen (Tonga), Ray ‘Rat’ Blaikie (NSW), Neil ‘Strongy’ Strong & Mark ‘Hillsy’ Hills from Yallingup caught up to talk stories at the WA Surf Gallery, Aravina Estate, Yallingup.
2022 Surfside Board Riders team photo at WA Surf Gallery. Photo Mick Marlin. L-R Sheenie, Hillsy, Rat & Strongy.
Dave Sheen was the windsurfing stunt rider in the romantic comedy film Windrider (1986) filmed in WA. Mark Zagar. “Sheenie features pretty heavily in the trailer, classic windsurfing style on some big airs and how cool is the 80s fashion . “
Windrider (1986) – Trailer
Windrider (alternatively worded as Wind Rider and also known as Making Waves) is a 1986 Australian romantic comedy film directed by Vincent Monton and starring Tom Burlinson, Nicole Kidman, and Bud Tingwell. It was filmed in Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
A big thank you to Mark Zagar for providing the film trailer.
***Updated 1 Aug 2024*** added link to Windrider (1986) – Trailer featuring windsurfing by Dave Sheen
Former Dunsborough resident Dave Sheen is an accomplished ocean-man.
At 19 Dave developed a great love for wave sailing (windsurfing) and he excelled at the sport, going on to join the world pro-tour. Dave claimed three Australian national titles and lived for years in the windsurfing paradise of Maui, Hawaii, where he trained and competed. Nowadays splitting his watersport time between surfing, kitesurfing, windsurfing, SUP foiling, standup paddle boarding, free diving and catamaran sailing he is a true ocean-man. Source Whale DIscoveries Tonga.
Dave Sheen. “Tom Hoye was a true legend who walked the talk here’s a pic of me as one very stoked grommet with a new 5’8 shooter”.
Mark ‘Hillsy’ Hills. “Surfside Board Riders Club members Neil Strong and Dave Sheen set up the first surf shop in Dunsborough centro, Dunsborough Sail and Surf Supply in the 80s. Formerly Bruce & Sue Nicholson’s tackle shop. Strongy later changed the shop name to Country Waves.”
Hillsy. “I remember our first intra-contest at Bears. The waves got too big, so the finals were moved to the beachie at Smith Beach. In the finals the waves were solid and Dave Sheen burst his ear drum on a wipe-out. My new beach towel was used to stem the bleeding and the final was aborted before I caught a wave🙂.”
In 2022 after nearly 40 years, former members of the 1980s Surfside Board Riders Club Dave ‘Sheenie’ Sheen (Tonga), Ray ‘Rat’ Blaikie (NSW), Neil ‘Strongy’ Strong & Mark ‘Hillsy’ Hills from Yallingup caught up to talk stories at the WA Surf Gallery, Aravina Estate, Yallingup.
L-R Sheenie, Hillsy, Rat & Strongy.
The Sheen family now runs Whale Discoveries in Tonga.
Thanks to the photo contributors.
Bonus film footage
Dave Sheen was the windsurfing stunt rider in the romantic comedy film Windrider (1986) filmed in WA. Mark Zagar. “Sheenie features pretty heavily in the trailer, classic windsurfing style on some big airs and how cool is the 80s fashion . “
Windrider (1986) – Trailer
Windrider (alternatively worded as Wind Rider and also known as Making Waves) is a 1986 Australian romantic comedy film directed by Vincent Monton and starring Tom Burlinson, Nicole Kidman, and Bud Tingwell. It was filmed in Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
A big thank you to Mark Zagar for providing the film trailer.
————————-
Share this:
Like this: