Octogenarian surf photographer/journalist/model Ric Chan has lived a truly remarkable life over his 80 years. At the age of 18, in 1965, Ric left his homeland of New Zealand with a passion for surfing and a dream to become the first Chinese person to photograph surfing in Australia. His journey started on the East Coast of Australia, where he travelled with top Australian surfers, capturing stunning surf photos and writing stories for both U.S. and Australian surf magazines. In New South Wales, he bought an old VW Kombi van, rebuilt it, and outfitted it for surf travel, painting it a distinctive gold color.
His travels extended further to South Australia and Western Australia in 1969, and then to Bali in the early 1980s. In 1985, Ric married Queensland model Sami in Bali. Together, they had two sons, Taron and Tao. Unfortunately, Sami passed away in Bali in 1991 and Ric returned to New Zealand to raise his boys.
Back in New Zealand, Ric appeared as The Master Swordsman in Xena: Warrior PrincessTV Series and won a radio voice-over award in 2014.
In 2014, Ric reconnected with his Australian friends, and his extensive photo collection was rediscovered at his friend Graham Noakes’s workplace in Margaret River. Ric’s images are featured in the books “Surfing Down South” and “Surfing WA: Celebrating 50 Years,” both published in 2014.
Ric and his sons moved to Mandurah, Western Australia, in the early 2020s, where he continues to live a fulfilling life. Throughout his journey, Ric has had countless adventures, and there is hardly anything this octogenarian hasn’t experienced.
Ric’s photographs from the 1960s to the 1980s are exhibited in galleries, surf magazines, surf history books, and on social media. In the South West, his surf photos and memorabilia are on display at the WA Surf Gallery Aravina Estate Yallingup, as well as in cafes and watering holes.
Ric Chan’s 80 years have been filled with extraordinary experiences, shaping a life well-lived and leaving an indelible mark on the world of surfing and photography.
Meet the outrageous Ric Chan
Great Ocean magazine editor Jock Serong published an entertaining article titled Meet the outrageous Ric Chan: Photographer, Traveller and Eccentric at Large in Great Ocean magazine Vol 1:4 in 2014.
2014 Great Ocean Quarterly mag vol 14 The Outrageous Ric Chan feature by Jock Serong.#1
2014 Great Ocean Quarterly mag vol 14 The Outrageous Ric Chan feature by Jock Serong.#2
Ric pics in chronological order from ‘go to whoa’
1963 NZ Ric (18) with Cortina sedan & Malibu surfboards Auckland. Photo Ric Chan.
1963 NZ Ric lead singer Morguemen band Auckland. Photo Ric Chan.
1968 NSW Ric & model in fashion shoot Sydney Heads. Photo Ric Chan.
1969 South Aust. Ric modelling O’Neill wet suit in Surf International magazine.
1969 South Aust. Ric & his Gold Kombi on trek across the Nullarbor Plain from South Aust to WA. Photo Ric Chan.
1969 WA. Ric with top east coast surfers at first Australian Surfing Titles held at Margaret River. Image Independent Newspaper.
1970 WA. Fashionista Ric & his Jaguar sedan in Perth City. Ric’s maroon colour Jaguar was fitted out with large speakers and an 8-track player. Photo courtesy Ric Chan.
Ric “Chatting up babes became my favourite pastime between waves.”
1975 WA Ric (age 30) with some of his camera equipment at Syd Tate’s place Margaret River. Photo Ric Chan.
1970s WA. Fashion shoot featuring Grant Goldman (TV and radio personality & voice-over artist) and Ric Chan with models. Photo Ric Chan.
1980s WA. Ric Chan & Bob McKenzie DJ’s Gobbles Night Club Perth city. Photo Ric Chan.
1985 Bali. Ric helped set up & manageCheaters Night Club on the night club strip Kuta, Bali. Cheaters was located near the famous Bali Peanuts Club and Casablanca Night Club managed by the late Peter Dyson from WA for founder Pak Ngurah. Photos Ric Chan.
Mid 1980s Bali wedding for Ric & his late wife Sami (RIP). Photo Ric Chan (water damaged).
2001 NZ. Ric ‘Master Swordsman’ prisoner scene Xena Warrior Princess TV series filmed in NZ. Screen grab.
2019 WA. Ric and youngest son Tao with 1969 Evolution movie ticket/poster designed by Ric in the background. Poster includes contest reviews by Bob McTavish, Ric Chan, Wayne Lynch & John Arnold. Photo Jim King.
2024 WA. Ric and Chris ‘Feggsey’ Fullston crabbing in Mike Singleton’s run-about in Mandurah estuary. Photo Mike Singleton.
Thanks to all contributors.
Ric’s vintage surf photos, video cameras and 1969 Evolution movie ticket/poster are on display at the WA Surf Gallery Aravina Estate Yallingup.
Octogenarian surf photographer/journalist/model Ric Chan has lived a truly remarkable life over his 80 years. At the age of 18, in 1965, Ric left his homeland of New Zealand with a passion for surfing and a dream to become the first Chinese person to photograph surfing in Australia. His journey started on the East Coast of Australia, where he travelled with top Australian surfers, capturing stunning surf photos and writing stories for both U.S. and Australian surf magazines. In New South Wales, he bought an old VW Kombi van, rebuilt it, and outfitted it for surf travel, painting it a distinctive gold color.
His travels extended further to South Australia and Western Australia in 1969, and then to Bali in the early 1980s. In 1985, Ric married Queensland model Sami in Bali. Together, they had two sons, Taron and Tao. Unfortunately, Sami passed away in Bali in 1991 and Ric returned to New Zealand to raise his boys.
Back in New Zealand, Ric appeared as The Master Swordsman in Xena: Warrior Princess TV Series and won a radio voice-over award in 2014.
In 2014, Ric reconnected with his Australian friends, and his extensive photo collection was rediscovered at his friend Graham Noakes’s workplace in Margaret River. Ric’s images are featured in the books “Surfing Down South” and “Surfing WA: Celebrating 50 Years,” both published in 2014.
Ric and his sons moved to Mandurah, Western Australia, in the early 2020s, where he continues to live a fulfilling life. Throughout his journey, Ric has had countless adventures, and there is hardly anything this octogenarian hasn’t experienced.
Ric’s photographs from the 1960s to the 1980s are exhibited in galleries, surf magazines, surf history books, and on social media. In the South West, his surf photos and memorabilia are on display at the WA Surf Gallery Aravina Estate Yallingup, as well as in cafes and watering holes.
Ric Chan’s 80 years have been filled with extraordinary experiences, shaping a life well-lived and leaving an indelible mark on the world of surfing and photography.
Meet the outrageous Ric Chan
Great Ocean magazine editor Jock Serong published an entertaining article titled Meet the outrageous Ric Chan: Photographer, Traveller and Eccentric at Large in Great Ocean magazine Vol 1:4 in 2014.
2014 Great Ocean Quarterly mag vol 14 The Outrageous Ric Chan feature by Jock Serong. #1
2014 Great Ocean Quarterly mag vol 14 The Outrageous Ric Chan feature by Jock Serong. #2
Ric pics in chronological order from ‘go to whoa’
1963 NZ Ric (18) with Cortina sedan & Malibu surfboards Auckland. Photo Ric Chan.
1963 NZ Ric lead singer Morguemen band Auckland. Photo Ric Chan.
1968 NSW Ric & model in fashion shoot Sydney Heads. Photo Ric Chan.
1969 South Aust. Ric modelling O’Neill wet suit in Surf International magazine.
1969 South Aust. Ric & his Gold Kombi on trek across the Nullarbor Plain from South Aust to WA. Photo Ric Chan.
1969 WA. Ric with top east coast surfers at first Australian Surfing Titles held at Margaret River. Image Independent Newspaper.
1970 WA. Fashionista Ric & his Jaguar sedan in Perth City. Ric’s maroon colour Jaguar was fitted out with large speakers and an 8-track player. Photo courtesy Ric Chan.
Ric “Chatting up babes became my favourite pastime between waves.”
1975 WA Ric (age 30) with some of his camera equipment at Syd Tate’s place Margaret River. Photo Ric Chan.
1970s WA. Fashion shoot featuring Grant Goldman (TV and radio personality & voice-over artist) and Ric Chan with models. Photo Ric Chan.
1980s WA. Ric Chan & Bob McKenzie DJ’s Gobbles Night Club Perth city. Photo Ric Chan.
1985 Bali. Ric helped set up & manage Cheaters Night Club on the night club strip Kuta, Bali. Cheaters was located near the famous Bali Peanuts Club and Casablanca Night Club managed by the late Peter Dyson from WA for founder Pak Ngurah. Photos Ric Chan.
Mid 1980s Bali wedding for Ric & his late wife Sami (RIP). Photo Ric Chan (water damaged).
2001 NZ. Ric ‘Master Swordsman’ prisoner scene Xena Warrior Princess TV series filmed in NZ. Screen grab.
2019 WA. Ric and youngest son Tao with 1969 Evolution movie ticket/poster designed by Ric in the background. Poster includes contest reviews by Bob McTavish, Ric Chan, Wayne Lynch & John Arnold. Photo Jim King.
2024 WA. Ric and Chris ‘Feggsey’ Fullston crabbing in Mike Singleton’s run-about in Mandurah estuary. Photo Mike Singleton.
Thanks to all contributors.
Ric’s vintage surf photos, video cameras and 1969 Evolution movie ticket/poster are on display at the WA Surf Gallery Aravina Estate Yallingup.
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