Gordon Woods Surf Shop - Cronulla 1969

11th June - 2025

I remember it well, the Gordon Woods Surfboards Surf Shop in Cronulla. It was located in the Beach Park Arcade, directly opposite the Cronulla Railway Station.

It was run by the larger than life, TV Sports Commentator, the late Darryl Eastlake. Back in the late '60s, big Darryl was the first person to ever do a specialised 'southside' surf report on Sydney radio.

*Ad from Surfing World Magazine c.1969.

Cronulla surf conditions rarely got mentioned by the early surf reporters. Cronulla was then considered an 'end-of-the-line' beach and didn't rate up there with the more glamorous and highly famed Bondi and Manly beaches.

Darryl installed a direct 'landline' connected to the shop so that he could do his surf reports over the uninterrupted link to Sydney AM radio station 2UE, where Surfing World magazine founder and editor, the late Bob Evans, would host the main surf report.

Then when Darryl left, another assertive Cronulla surf personality took over the reins of the Gordon Woods shop. It was Wes King. Wes was president of the strong Eastern States Boardriders Club who were, in those days, based mainly at Cronulla Point.



Thanks for the SW image to Darryl Von Weirdo:
https://www.instagram.com/seagypsiesoftasmania

Third in the World with White Stag wetsuits

Thursday 4th June - 2025

Dale Matheson my Tassie mate that owns and runs the Scamander Beach Surf Shop in Scamander, Tasmania sent me this ad shot today. It was taken from Tracks Magazine. Issue No.26. Cover date: December 1972.

It's not only a shout out to my old mate, former World Champ, Peter Townend, but more importantly, a shout out to one of Australia's original surfing wetsuit manufacturers; White Stag. A brand that was actually put together right here in The Shire, in Taren Point.

This strongly reinforces the deep heritage value of surfing in the Sutherland Shire. Check the 'White Stag' street address, they were stitching and gluing neoprene at 6 Bay Road, in Taren Point. The exact same street where we had the Peter Clarke Surfboard factory which was located at 53 Bay Road in the '60s and '70s.

PT proudly displaying his 'third in the world' trophies

from Ocean Beach Pier in San Diego, California. 1972

Also sporting his 'White Stag' rolled seams, long john wetsuit.

My own, very first surfing wetsuit back in 1964 was a 'White Stag' long-sleeve Spring suit with a classic 'beavertail' flap. 'White Stag' was a strong surfing brand around the early '60s surfing scene long before Rip Curl was even invented.

Initially they were a household name with the underwater diving enthusiasts, but they ventured a strong crossover into surfing by offering some colourful fusion into their imaging and branding.

I remember 1966 World Champion, Nat Young wearing White Stag wetsuits for a time as well. Also the world famous skin diving couple, photographers Ron and Valerie Taylor were captured wearing White Stag neoprene at all the world's leading dive locations.

This Tracks ad was celebrating the fact that Peter Townend came 3rd in World Surfing Titles held alongside the Ocean Beach Pier, in San Diego, California in 1972. An amazing 53-years ago!

50-year old Surf Photos still live & Breath

12th May - 2025

Facebook's Cronulla Surf Museum keeps running nostalgic pages/ads/photos extracts from my glossy Surf Magazine that I published back in 1977. 

Ed Little - Cronulla Point.
From the pages of my Surf Magazine - 1977

Above is today's snip. My Cronulla Point shot here of Ed Little has pulled in 135 likes in the last 10-hours. I can't believe this material is still getting serious likes nearly 50-years later.

That's simply an amazing longevity that I never even remotely dreamt would happen. My thanks to everyone.

Bob 'The Yank' Newland

8th May - 2025

I received this photo from Peter Townend this week, PT is making his first ever, surf related, visit to Peru. He said Apple (he always has called me Apple). I've got someone here in Peru that wants to say G'day to you.

The guy standing with PT in Peru is Californian, Bob Newland. When I was working at Peter Clarke Surfboards in our new northside factory in Brookvale in 1968. Keith Paull and Glynn Ritchie were our shapers, Ross Longbottom was part of our production team and I was gloss coater & pinliner. Bob Newland was our glasser.

(left) Bob 'The Yank' Newland and (right) former
World Surfing Champion, Peter 'PT' Townend in Peru.

Bob left his home in Ventura, California as a 17-year-old in 1967. He sailed the 7,500 miles (12,000 kms) onboard the P&O ocean liner SS Orsova to Sydney. When he landed in Sydney he had $90.00 in his back pocket and a Visitor's Visa, good for 90-days.

He got his first job at Scott Dillon Surfboards in Brookvale fixing dings and other odd jobs around the factory. Bob said he was drawn to Australian in particular by the style and abilities of Cronulla surfer, the late Bobby Brown.

Bob moved north and formed part of the initial wave of the super early 'American Invasion' of surfers into a slumbersome Byron Bay. To them, California was getting too crazy and too crowded. Or they were trying to escape conscription into the Vietnam War.

In the early '70s in Byron Bay, Bob worked at San Juan Surfboards with founder Ken Adler and Dick Hoole. In 1971, "after a falling out with the new management at San Juan," Bob started Bare Nature Surfboards on his farm outside of Byron, assisted by Bob Rasby.

The classic downhome Bare Nature Surf Shop
in Byron Bay in the 1970s.

Newland then started a partnership with Roy Meisel, an "old and still best friend" who had also recently arrived from the US, and the business then moved into the Bay

Subsequently, Roy Meisel purchased Bare Nature Surfboards outright, however, "before he closed the doors, someone stole the name and registered the trademark for it". Roy, very laid back, couldn't be bothered defending my original name which he owned, (and which) I was ready to buy back from him.

Bob Newland then spent some time working for Warren Cornish Surfboards, before starting up Surf Aids in 1973. In the early seventies, Surf Aids was a pioneering company in researching the undeveloped mechanics and science of leg ropes & advanced protective surfboard covers. Bob sold Surf Aids in 1981.

Five years ago Bob sold up in California and moved to the Hawaiian Islands. These days Bob lives on the 'big island' of Hawaii. Over on the windward side in Honokaa. It's peaceful, green and is old school Hawaii. It has plenty of old traditional houses and buildings. Sounds a lot like he's found his new Byron Bay, just fifty years later in 2025.

Link to story about Glynn Ritchie and Peter Clarke's Surfboards northside factory where Bob glassed surfboards in 1968: CLICK HERE

Why PT is the Most Influential Surfer of All Time

Sunday 27th April - 2025

Here's a revealing, almost 'behind the scenes' insight clip from my old mate PT as he talks in lengthy detail about the production & filming of some of the surfing scenes of everybody's favourite Hollywood surf movie, 1978's "Big Wednesday".

Peter Townend graces the cover of US Surfer Magazine.
At the time the photo was taken he had recently
been crowned the first World Champion

Some surfing sequences were filmed in El Salvador. As the producers tried to replicate the famous point break surf that would appear similar on film to California's famous Malibu - where the story was set.

PT was in El Salvador just two weeks ago. This week, he's in Peru. Next month he'll be back on homeground in Australia for the WSL contest, the Bonsoy Gold Coast Pro.

Ah... the life of an ex-World Champion roving surf ambassador. It's tough.

Tracks Magazine cover of February 1977
With front page news that declared PT as "Numero Uno"

By the way, this short film's producer, Tony Roberts, used a lot of my old surf images scattered throughout this clip too. I'm proud to have my work included as a salute to my life-long friend.

Do yourself a favour and check out the clip on YouTube:

Cronulla tribal elders hook-up...

Wednesday 5th March - 2025

A great mini reunion in Cronulla yesterday at the 'Next Door Cafe' in the Alley at North Cronulla for three old salty surf mates from yesteryear in Cronulla.

Once red hot Cronulla goofy footer, Mick Anastas, better known as simply 'MA', who these days lives in Seminyak, Bali and Graham 'Reno' Gillespie once part of the ruling masters in the Sandshoes line-up. Or as Peter 'PT' Townend calls them, the 'Sandshoes Mafia'. And of course myself.

A rare catch-up for three lifelong Cronulla surf mates at the Next Door Cafe in Cronulla.
Steve Core left, Mick 'MA' Anastas in the middle. Graham 'Reno' Gillespie on the right.
Plenty of re-lived tall tales and true from the legendary past were dissected
and the fun times were discussed and laughed about.
Photo: A self-timed selfie by me.

Also I've included below, the Taren Point-based Gordon & Smith surfboard advertisement from 1975. We all get a nod in this famous glossy magazine ad that truly bonds us all together. So 50-years ago.

The theme of the ad features former World Champion Peter 'PT' Townend as 

the headline act, the big star for G&S in the middle (naturally), 

surrounded by lots a of smaller stars.

They include a lot of famous old Cronulla surfing personalities 

(all good friends to this day) including, you guessed it, 'Reno', 'MA' and myself.

The theme of the ad features former World Champion, Peter 'PT' Townend as the headline act, the big star for G&S in the middle (naturally), surrounded by a cluster of smaller stars. They include a lot of famous old Cronulla surfing personalities including, you guessed it, 'Reno', 'MA' and myself.

By the way, that big star photo in the middle of PT, locked inside in a spinning vortex barrel at Kirra Point is a water shot by me.

*

110-years since Duke Kahanamoku surfed Cronulla

Saturday 15th February - 2025

Just 12-years after the Wright Brothers made the world's first powered flight on the Kill Devil Hills along the sand dunes scattered behind the beaches of Kitty Hawk, in North Carolina. A legendary Hawaiian athlete, Duke Kahanamoku was demonstrating the art of surfboard riding on the Pacific Ocean's Australian shoreline, at Cronulla - of all places.

For that very reason, Surfing Sutherland Shire today celebrated the 110th anniversary of that first visit to Cronulla beach by the world’s most celebrated waterman, Duke Kahanamoku.

Surfing Sutherland Shire President, John Veage
addressing the seaside gathering of the faithful

Duke Paoa Kahinu Mokoe Hulikohola Kahanamoku, a celebrated Hawaiian Olympic swimmer and surfer, visited Sydney in 1914-15. Between his Olympic medal-winning feats, Kahanamoku travelled internationally performing swimming and surfing demonstrations. It was during this period that he popularised the sport of surfing in Australia.

Surfing Sutherland Shire President, John Veage, said it was an honour for the Duke to paddle out at Cronulla and for it to also be the first Australian surf spot where the Americans surfed their Malibu surfboards in 1956.

Amazing craftsmanship in these contemporary
wooden Riley surfboards on display.

“Even if you’re not into surfing's early history, it’s a great story of how surfing came to Cronulla,” he said.

During his stay in Sydney, ‘The Duke’ – as he became known – constructed a board from solid sugar pine and with it famously performed ‘Hawaiian-Style surf shooting’ at Freshwater Beach on December 24, 1914.

On February 7, 1915 Duke Kahanamoku and his party, travelling by steam train,  were met at Sutherland Railway Station by members of the Cronulla Surf Lifesaving Club. They undertook a sightseeing tour to Waterfall, returning to Audley in the Royal National Park for lunch.

The Duke replica surfboard on display right where
the Duke first surfed in Cronulla 110-years ago.

A motor launch then took Duke Kahanamoku and the others up the Port Hacking river to Gunnamatta Bay in Cronulla where the ocean beach was packed with people.

An impromptu surf reel race was staged before Kahanamoku took to the water at the ‘Big Beach’ (North Cronulla) for an exhibition of surfboard riding – standing upright, standing on his head, diving off, twisting the board.

“It all looked so ridiculously easy,” reported the St George Call newspaper at the time, “and so it was to the Duke, but local men, who tried after came to the conclusion that they had a lot to learn about the game.”

Plenty of Esplanade pavement pounders stopping by
to admire the heritage display in North Cronulla, commemorating
Duke Kahanamoku's surfboard riding exhibition here, 110-years ago.

The day ended with tea at Cronulla’s beachside clubhouse followed by music where the guests of honour entertained and sang Hawaiian songs with Duke Kahanamoku strumming on his ukulele.

Duke left one of his surfboards behind with a Cronulla SLSC member, Ron Bowden, which has never been found, but it sparked a new level of interest in board riding on Sydney’s southern beaches.

Surfing in Cronulla; front and center.
Where it should be.

Surfing Sutherland Shire had this historic wooden surfboard exhibition at Peryman Place (North Cronulla) which included the replica Duke surfboard that was created for the 100th 'Duke' anniversary ten years ago in 2015.

Coverage & photos: Steve Core