Windrider is a 1986 Australian romantic comedy film directed by Vincent Monton and starring Tom Burlinson, Nicole Kidman, and Bud Tingwell. A rock star (Nicole Kidman) falls for a rich man’s son (Tom Burlinson) who competitively board-sails the coast of Western Australia. The movie was filmed right here in Perth.
1986 Windrider movie poster
Camelot Outdoor Cinema at Mosman Park is screening the ’80s cult classic Windrider on Sat 5 April 2025 as the film season finale. Relive the windsurfing craze with Nicole Kidman’s feature debut, plus an exclusive live Q&A session with producer Paul Barron and legendary stunt windsurfing doubles Dave Sheen & Kim Bullard. Enjoy live music, drink specials, and an unforgettable ’80s atmosphere.
Camelot Outdoor Cinema Windrider screening 5 April 2025.
City Beach surfer Mark Zagar was a young camera assistant on the movie.
Mark Zagar. “It will be a blast to the past, looking forward to revisiting it. I was a young camera assistant on this movie, probably the biggest feature film shot in Perth up to that point. One unforgettable memory was working with a young Nicole Kidman, she was only 18 and pulled off fronting a new wave rock n roll band, complete with red leather jacket and a single glove plus a pretty racy love scene, semi naked.
Windrider was designed to ride the ‘80s Brat Pack, Teen Movie wave, that Rob Lowe, Demi Moore, Molly Ringwald, etc made a worldwide box office phenomenon. Nicole would’ve been aware of the genre’s massive appeal and took the ball and ran with it. I remember she was an extremely driven and focused young woman, it was no accident she went straight to Hollywood and became a super star.
Then there was the big hair, big make up, day glow fluoro beach fashion, high waisted bathers and super tight board shorts. Ah, the eighties, what a time to be alive!
Windrider movie promotion poster featuring Nicole Kidman.
The soundtrack of the film was by Kevin Peek of Sky fame, which was one of Perth’s most acclaimed and biggest selling bands of the late 70s. Making cameos in Nicole’s back-up band were Dave Warner and Johnny Leopard, from Perths biggest pub rock band of the 70s Dave Warner’s From the Suburbs.
Windrider movie promotion poster.
Another highlight of the Windrider shoot was working with the legendary US surfer George Greenough! He was the world renown water cinematographer and absolutely nailed the shots of Dave Sheen and Kim Bullard’s world class windsurfing. Famously, George beautifully captured Dave’s spectacular, world first 360 loop. George was, of course, super eccentric, totally living up to his reputation. Bare feet, always. Stubbed toes, mangled feet, never washed his beach blonde bowl cut hairdo, it looked like straw. He was quite the showstopper when he walked into the pre shoot cocktail party with all the govt and investor dignitaries!
He used the same camera rigs he made to film Big Wednesday in 1978 at massive Sunset, El Salvador and Hawaii, they were utterly amazing and unique inventions.
He dismantled big Hollywood and military 35mm cameras, which was kinda sacrilege, then he reassembled them in the most unconventional manner imaginable. He then glued them into his home-made fiberglass and carbon graphite water housings. He dubbed them the Pig and the Melon, and they matched the descriptions! Hilarious and bizarre contraptions, very mad professor, jerry rigs. But his custom made inventions were actually ingenious, allowing him to get feature film quality cinematic shots of high performance surfing, up close and personal, that had never been seen before. He nailed stunning action shots that made the movie shine.”
George Greenough’s Big Wednesday camera rig. Photos Dan Merkel courtesy Surfing Heritage & Cultural Centre.
Windrider 1986 Trailer
Don’t miss this limited-capacity event.
Thanks for sharing your Windrider recollections, Mark Zagar.
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