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Retro makes a comeback
January 07, 2007
FORMER champion surfer Gary Elkerton has ridden the evolution of surfboards.
His appearance in yesterday's final of the Burleigh Heads Boardriders Club single-fin competition took him back in time. "It still goes gnarly," he said of the board, which he paid $150 for a couple of years ago – about twice what it would have cost new in 1977.
Yesterday's competition was a throw back to simpler times in the surf – before twin-fins and thrusters had grommets pulling air and 360s.
With average thruster boards now costing about $700, technology, price and skill in the sport have certainly progressed. However, it was the interaction of current surfing skills on "antique" equipment that made yesterday's competition fascinating.
Sam Robinson, 13, was impressed with surfing on old boards, but having only just successfully completed his first aerial last week, decided he would stick with his thruster. "They're surfing them pretty good, I saw a guy bust out a mad air reverse, that was pretty sick," Sam said.
Kong in action
Thompson is best at the point
Nick Smart
08Jan07
NO one knows the point at Burleigh quite like local Jay Thompson, and he proved it once again by taking out the final of the Burleigh Boardriders Single Fin Festival yesterday.
More than 2000 people crammed on to Burleigh beach to watch Thompson clinch the title.
Lennox surfer Daniel Thompson finished second, Burleigh local Gary Watterson third and Cabarita's Steve Powell fourth.
It was a party atmosphere with a huge turnout that even surprised event organisers.
The festival saw several celebrities take part, including NRL star Craig Wing of the Sydney Roosters.
Former rugby league ace Craig Pollamounter and world Muay-Thai kickboxing champion Nathan Corbett tried their luck as well.
Promoted as celebrating the art of riding the one-finned craft, the three-day festival was hailed a raging success.
As has become tradition for the event, the single fins must have been made before 1981, with no newly-made boards allowed in the competition.
Classic single-fin surfing was the norm, with competitors emulating the styles of Michael Peterson and former world champion and now ASP president Wayne 'Rabbit' Bartholomew, who both competed.
