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pods for primates : a catatogue of surfboards in australia since 1900

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newspapers : sydney surf-shooting, 1906-1913

Sydney Newspapers : Surf-shooting, 1906-1913.

Extracts from

Introduction.
Although a very brief description, it does indicate the drop-knee stance and that surfriding at Waikiki was still probably common in the 1850s.

The Daily Telegraph
3 November 1910, page 5.

THE SURFING SEASON
MANLY'S PREPARATIONS
....

WARNING TO BATHERS
Recently the Warringah Shire Council received a complaint concerning the use of surf-boards at Freshwater.
The matter was referred to the police, with a request that action should be taken as the use of boards in the breakers was considered dangerous and should be prohibited.
Noted in S&G Champion: Drowning, Bathing and Life Saving (2000) page 131.

The Daily Telegraph
27 January 1912, page 21.

A clever exhibition of surf board shooting was given by Mr. Walker, of the Manly Seagulls Surf Club.
With his Hawaiian surf board he drew much applause for his clever feats, coming in on the breaker standing balanced on his feet or his head.

Evening News
22 January 1913, page 10.

BOARDS IN THE SURF.
DANGEROUS SPORT AT MANLY.
COUNCIL WILL STOP IT.

The bathing inspector under the jurisdiction of the Manly Council, wrote to the aldermen at the last meetIng, asking that they should consider the advisableness of having a portion of the beach set apart for the shooting of breakers with boards.

Many are being used at present by bathers who fringe the crowd.
Those who are unaware of the restrictions use a board in the thickest of the bathing crowd.
If the suggestion were carried out, it would relieve the congestion in the southern corner of the beach.

Dr. Neale was opposed to the use of boards in the surf.
They were, in his opinion, very dangerous.
He had been struck in the back whIle bathing, and it was the reverse of pleasant.
He moved that the bathing inspector be instructed to enforce the regulation dealing with using boards while shooting the breakers.

Alderman Paterson seconded the motion.
The practice of taking boards into the surf should not be allowed.

Alderman Heaton was of the opinion that a portion of the beach should be set apart for the sport of shooting the breakers with boards.
There were many young fellows who like the pastime.

The motion was carried.

Alderman Quirk said that he had witnessed a clever exhibition by a young man who "shot" the breakers with a board.
For fully 100 yd he came in standing on the board, and was loudly applauded by a thousand people for his feat.
Noted in S&G Champion: Drowning, Bathing and Life Saving (2000) page 179.

Geoff Cater (2009) : Sydney Newspapers: Surf-shooting, 1906-1913.
http://www.surfresearch.com.au/1906_Newspapers_Sydney.html