all the BeSt SuRf GeaR and SuRfWeaR under one roof...
StockiStS of Baku, Seafolly Ginja and more great Swimwear 1/16B addiSon St ShellharBour Village
02 4295 3373
206 keira Street, wollongong
02 4227 2777
f , sur hion ies s a f f r sso t sur ong! lates and acce llong o The W e r m wa s fro hard inute m 0 1 Only
100 Railway St, Corrimal NSW 2518
(02) 4283 7196
www.surfpit.com.au
take PrIDe Make your dream board with the highest quality surfboard kits from $620, complete with wood, epoxies, glass, fittings, manual and more.
HISTORY So many great surfers and great shapers have called, and still call, The Gong and it surrounding regions home. The list of surfers through the years is like a roll call of Australia’s best, guys like Ken Middleton, Kevin Parkinson, Paul Brooks, Terry Richardson, Robbie Page, Brian Cregan and the Byrne Brothers - Phil, Dave and Chris - who really put Wollongong on the map. Then there were the ladies such as Sharon Jackson (nee Holland) and Sandy Drysden. Later on it was the likes of Sandon Point’s Chad Ryan and Jake Spooner who carried the flame. There’s Mick Lowe of Windang and big wave charger, Kate Skarratt - one of the first ladies to tackle Hawaii’s Pipeline. Today, it’s the new breed such as Gerringong’s Todd Prestage and Gerroa’s Dean Bowen and Sally Fitzgibbons. You also have talented free-surfers and big wave chargers such as Michael Hopkins and Dylan Longbottom.
So you can see, from just this very brief history, the Illawarra surf scene was, and still is, alive and kicking.
On the shaping side of things, John Skipp of Skipp Surfboards was pretty much the founder of Wollongong’s surf scene. First working for Cansdell and Jackson Surfboards, he set up Skipp Williams Surfboards when Jackson decided to focus purely on his Cronulla operation. As for John, he’s still going strong and through the years has employed many great shapers such as the late Kevin Parkinson and Frank Latta. Also working with Skipp were the likes of Paul Nichol, Terry Richardson, Phil and Dave Byrne, who together with brother Chris went on to establish the world renowned Byrne Surfboards. Byrne have attracted some of the most notable pro surfers through the years such as Shaun Thompson, Larry Bertleman and Tom Carroll along with up-and-coming sensation Owen Wright.
LOCAL SURFBOARD BRANDS THROUGH THE YEARS •
Cansdell and Jackson Surfboards founded 1958, North Wollongong
•
Skipp Surfboards founded 1963, Wollongong
•
South Coast Surfboards founded 1972, Sandon Point
•
Mike Davis Surfboards founded 1975, Kiama
•
Byrne Surfboards founded 1977, Wollongong
•
Carabine Surfboards founded 1977, Wollongong
•
Terry Richardson Surfboards 1978, Wollongong
•
Crooked River Surfboards founded 1978, Gerroa
FAST FACTS Climate: Warm summers and mild winters mean that the area’s wide range of outdoor recreational activities can be enjoyed all year round. Maximum average temperatures range from 26C in summer to 17C in winter. Population: The Illawarra region has a population of just over 410,000. The city of Wollongong accounts for almost half of it and is in fact the tenth largest city in Australia, the third in New South Wales after Sydney and Newcastle. Nearest city: Wollongong is just 82 kilometres south of Sydney
www.caPeboatworks.com.au 37-39 Chapman St, Fairy Meadow NSW 2519 Phone: 02 4283 1115 70
Photo: Steev S
nov/dec 2010
Nov2010_Smorgas_Spread 064_077.indd 70
1/11/10 5:41 AM