Keen metro bodysurfers surfed Down South in the 60-80s.
They used homemade marine ply hand boards, paddles and body/belly boards to enhance their wave riding skills.
There were two groups of bodysurfers surfing in the SW during this period. A group of elders from the northern suburbs and the Bombora Surfriders Assoc from the Cottesloe region.
The Elders
Harry Kimber, Al Rich, George Tocas, Ross Thompson, Ron Edwards, Doug & Janet James, Lea D’Almeida and others were regulars at South Point, Gallows, Guillotines and Baby Bears during this period.
Many of these early surfers have passed as has the art of bodysurfing.
L-R. Al Rich, George Tocas & Doug James.
Elder’s bodysurfing equipment
Bodysurfing recollections courtesy Jo Felton (daughter of the late Brian and Jenny Felton)
During the early 60’s the lads started going to Trigg Point and met many similar families and became great friends. Most of the men body surfed, eventually they used homemade plywood hand boards and giant flippers which enabled them to surf the point and larger waves in the Yallingup area.
In the late 60’s and early 70’s Mum and Dad and friends, started spending holidays at Yallingup and enjoying many of the different surf breaks in the area.
I recall the families of – Brian Felton, Ron Fussell, Ray Fussell, Alan Minty, Laurie Roach, Alan Rich, Harry Kimber, Ernst (I can’t remember his surname), John Leggoe, Kenny Gimm, Ron Watts, Rod Baker, Ross Thomsett, Andy Carlin, George Tocas, Lance Twomey and later Murray d’Almeida and Barry Fehlberg.
From hand boards most of the blokes progressed to homemade plywood body/bellyboards, which lasted for a few years until they discovered wave skis or ‘goat boats’ as they were commonly called. Initially they rode hollow wave skis with a bung in the nose to empty out any water, before moving to foam and fibreglass boards. Dad’s first wave ski was lime green and he and his board were called the “Green Slime” by most of my board rider mates.
They all surfed in their short dive wetties with flaps under the crutch, until Steamer wetsuits were invented in the early 70s.
Left: Brian Felton rode this homemade plywood body/knee board at Trigg Point and Down South.
Right: Ray Fussell and Harry Kimber with their hand boards.
Early 70s body boarding South Point at Gracetown. Photos courtesy Felton Family.
Top: Brian Felton. Bottom: Brian Felton, Ron Fussell and Harry Kimber.
(Left) Brian Felton and Harry Kimber. (Right) Harry Kimber.
(Left) Harry Kimber and Ray Fussell. (Right) Harry Kimber.
Bombora Surfriders Assoc
A group of keen Cottesloe surfers formed the Bombora Surfriders Assoc in the early 60s. The lads body surfed and rode kneeboards & Malibu’s at metro beaches. They went on regular trips down south, sleeping on the beach at Yallingup and beyond.
L-R Boyd Warrilow, Alan Briety, Nick Thomas & Roger Shields.
Top: waxed deck with hand grip. Bottom: full length wooden keel.
For more background on Bombora Surfriders click on the link below.
A big thank you to Jo Felton and her family and the family of the late Nick Thomas for sharing these body surfing memories and images.
————————————————-
