Bombora - History of Australian Surfing

[Buff_Brad]

Scott Dillon was a classic!

And Bob Pike ....... taking that wave at Pipeline on that board. Fcuking hell. Gutsy.

Very interesting - can see now why Larry remembers.........................and remembers..............and remembers.

But what about 100 years into the future???...................s'pose wave pools everywhere. Or virtual reality surfing. Every time is unique I guess. Compare Miget's surfing to Slater's - can't imagine anyone thinking Slater's surfing will look "old fashioned" in the future........ but they will for sure........still can't imagine it though.

[boardscape avalon]

very well done , good to see Dick Evans on screen...

[Felix]

I have the utmost admiration for anyone who attempts something such as this ... but why perpetuate the myth of the Duke and Isobel.

[Kunji]

Good doco, nick and co. It was good seeing some of the history there. I didnt know the history of bells etc. Why it was considered a classic aussie surf break. Good to see Queensie as well. Watched it with my mum. She remembered all the names and did the usual, "oh, i cant believe 'midge' now". Like he's all grown up and shit. Anyway, ill be watching the last episode. ABC is the best station.

[aaronn]

did anyone else think it was too long? i got bored with it after 10 minutes. i realise the history can't be told in 30 secs though

[steve shearer]

What a fcuking stoker.
Total joy seeing Midget, Bob Pike, Scotty Dillon etc etc.(and not just the standard Nat Young redux)
Jeeze, it illustrated with frightening contrast just how soft modern Sydney surfers have become.
You couldn't imagine the latte sipping residents of today doing anything remotely resembling feats of derring do which ernest historians would deem noteworthy.
I though the music choices were bizarre. Jesus and Mary Chain for the final of the '64 world titles ?????????? Yeah great idea.
it flowed, bit sort of g rated , didn't address any of the unknown unknowns. ie how did Bob Pike die?
I though NC's posture was a bit hunched when he was being interviewed and his head was very shiny.
But this is just carping.
The damm thing was highly enjoyable and skirted (though not by a wide margin) the usual cliched BS you see on mainstream TV about surfing.
Now I've seen Scotty Dillon when a few sheets to the wind and when there is some backpacker skirt around tell those tales with a little more......panache.
Where was the mention of that Nick?
The fcucking FACT that surfing is just some performance derived to get you more attention from the opposite sex?
The whole freudian subtext of why the hell people surf......freedom my arse.
Shit the surf sounds loud, fcuk this for a waste of time.

[Cuttlefish]

Yep,
Never mind the past this week.
We've got too many waves to ride up our way.
Just going to let the tide drop first.
LOL.

[PB]

I didn't think there was any mystery surrounding the death of Bob Pike, but it's also perhaps not something the makers of the doco wanted to include

[Grooter]

Have to say I loved the first episode. Well done Nick and co this was really enjoyable, even Mrs Hatchman was getting into it and she does not surf nor have much interest in it at all.

Bob McTavish was a standout to me, that bloke has got more stoke in him than a teenager after getting his first root

Seeing that footage of guys on massive wooden boards with no leg ropes taking on some heavy surf was pretty cool. Doubt many people these days would have the balls to do that.

Was some of that footage taken from Endless Summer 1? I thought the Hawaii stuff looked a little similar

[silvynn]

A great bit of history. So, the animosity between clubbies and surfers goes way back! I didn't know the clubbies used to require board riders to pay to have their boards registered, or be fined! I guess clubbies have always been wankers then?

And how were the shots of Bondi & Manly from the early 1900's? You think it's crowded today, but man things haven't changed much....

[Buff_Brad]

The only good thing about evenings on 702 is when Bob Downe fills in.

Dino comes out of the closet.

Finally.

Very funny nuffink.

[chrisb]

I though the music choices were bizarre. Jesus and Mary Chain for the final of the '64 world titles ?????????? Yeah great idea.
it flowed, bit sort of g rated , didn't address any of the unknown unknowns. ie how did Bob Pike die?

"Bombora" gets my thumbs up for approval.

Interesting choice of music I thought too. They didn't use "period" music as such but used later era artists such as the Stray Cats & Midnight Oil who reproduced '60's style music. Not sure, but did I also hear the Velvet Underground? If so, the relationship with surfing was lost on me. Can Nick Nack explain that one.

Bob Pike's death was covered in the papers quite some time ago (10+years). The key facts that I remember were that he had worked as a fireman at South Narra fire station, he suffered an injury that stopped his surfing and that he topped himself. Each preceding fact did not necessarily cause the following one.

[oldman]

Jeeze, it illustrated with frightening contrast just how soft modern Sydney surfers have become.

Yeah yeah. Waving that flag again SS?
We know you are realsurf's country member.
Much more interested in next week.

I know you can't tell the history without Midget, but I find him a whiny character, couldn't sit in a pub and have a beer with him.

Well, there you go, I've been advised by someone I trust that I could sit in a pub with him and he is a very interesting character. My thoughts were based on nothing more than casual observations based on a few interviews etc I have seen over the years. No doubt there is a store of surf information in his brain that I would be interested in dragging out.

I've edited my original contribution when I really meant to quote myself so that I could contradict myself. Apologies for the confusion.

Anyways, carry on, as I'm inclined to do. Have one of these for your troubles.

[Nick Carroll]

Not sure, but did I also hear the Velvet Underground? If so, the relationship with surfing was lost on me. Can Nick Nack explain that one.

Sure! We just thought it was a great track, energetic and rolling and really felt like it fit the big wave Hawaii hell man experience.

Glad most of you enjoyed it, don't worry oldman, Nat's in it up to his neck next wk.

[Nick Carroll]

The fcucking FACT that surfing is just some performance derived to get you more attention from the opposite sex?

whoa, shearer's the one coming out here

[puurri]

Jeeze, it illustrated with frightening contrast just how soft modern Sydney surfers have become.

Yeah yeah. Waving that flag again SS?
We know you are realsurf's country member.
Much more interested in next week.

Yeah, we remember.

[Trev]

I enjoyed it immensely. Not much new footage for someone as old as I am but the interviews were great.
It drew plenty of favourable comment out in the surf up here this morning, too.

[oldman]

Yeah, we remember.

puurri I knew you would know the reference even if no-one else did.