Contact Eppo and Krista @ info@bodyboardshop.com.au
I've also added some smaller versions of the video clips in the Video Reviews section for those of you who don't like your downloads too big.
V1, VARIANT 1 and VARIANT ONE are © 2001 SZABAD, Inc. For more information contact Bobby Szabad: surfszabad@aol.com or check out http://szabad.com.
Top Bodyboarding women representing 11 countries gathered to challenge their skills and flaunt the countless hours of training it takes, to take on the infamous Banzai Pipeline. As the first all women surfing competition at the best wave in the world, the Pipe offers the ultimate barrel for the reward.
Veteran Stephen Pettersen of Australia won the hotly contested final heat, with superb tube riding, defending champion Daniela Freitas of Brazil finished second by one point, Neymara Carvalho also of Brazil earned third with the sickest backdoor barrel, while 22 year old European Champion, Heloise Bourroux of France, fierce style gave us a taste of things to come, as she rounded out the final in fourth place. Bodyboarding pioneer, Jack Lindholm, of Hawaii won the 4th Annual Drop Knee Division and Johan De Goethe of South Africa won the Air Show.
Geraldine Gogin of Peru had this to say: " I am stocked to get ninth in the event, compete against the top girls and have Pipe only for only us during the heats. For me this one was the best competition I have been in because of the quality of the waves and the level of the competition".
First time Pipe finalist Heliose Bourroux of France commented that: "the event was organized, had lots of good waves. Pipeline is an awesome and powerful wave and all the girls where awesome too. This is my first time come to Hawaii, I'm very happy to be in the final, I will come back next year, to stay longer.
Much Mahalo to the State of Hawaii, the City and County of Honolulu, V-Bodyboards, Zbec Fins, Turbo Surf Designs, the Black Pearl Source, Star Bucks Coffee, Cholos, Giovaniesz Shrimp, Nicks Fishmarket, North Shore Lifeguard Association, Association of Women Bodyboarders, Don & Josie Over, are fabulous staff, Pixel World's Crew, all the competitors.
Round 3 of the competition begins at 8 am. 4 women heats, with a 25-minute time limit, 10 wave maximum, scores are taken from the best 3 wave score. An exciting day of competition is expected with the world's top women representing 10 countries, meeting the top 16 girls from the tour.
Other divisions today include the finals of the division Drop Knee Competition and an Air Show. Come and enjoy one of the most appealing and incredibly beautiful extreme spectator sports happening today on the North Shore of Oahu, at infamous Banzai Pipeline.
Where: Hard Rock Café
When: Saturday, February 3, 2001- 9PM
Meet the Women Bodyboarders!
Live Band: Cool Change
The Association of Women Bodyboaders registered 72 competitors representing 10 countries eager to charge the power and magic of the Banzai Pipeline.
2000 Women's World Champion Soria Rocha stands a challenge for her title by the likes of the current Australian champion, Kira Llewelyn, and Japan Champion, Aoi Koike. Strong representation also comes out of Japan with 25 competitors. Brazil always boasts some of the best women bodyboarders including the current world champion. With a convincing 2nd place finish in the World Games, Hawaii's Chastity Baltazar is ready to demonstrate her radical style on her home turf.
Beauty attempts to conquer the beast, best describes this show of pure athleticism, accuracy, and all the magic dust needed to rein victorious at the infamous Banzai Pipeline.
Don't miss the opportunity to witness one of the most appealing and amazingly beautiful extreme spectator sport. Holding period is January 28 - February 9, 2001, at the Banzai Pipeline on the North Shore of Oahu.
In fairness to Quiksilver I should let you know that they are still sponsoring Ben Player and Mandy Zeiren as well as a few other unknown groms.
The promo started at noon in the Ala Moana centerstage area with a long lineup of bodyboarders signing autographs and talking story with the crowd. Bodyboarders in attendance included: Mike Stewart, Kainoa McGee, Jerrett Lau, Mitch Rawlins, Ruben Quinones, Jon Kelly Hanoa, Spencer Skipper, Jeff Hubbard, David Hubbard, Ross McBride, Joey Vieira, Rex Moribe, Ben Severson, Brian Wise, Todd Glazer, Sean Virtue, Matt Lacky, Kirra Llewellyn, Stephen McKenzie, Aka and Shawnee Lyman, Alex Kinimaka, Lanson Ronquilio, Andrew Lester, Nelz Vellocido, and others.
Local radio personalities Augie T. and Tehana of Island Rhythms (KDNN 98.5 FM) were hilarious, inviting the audience onstage to play games to win promotional prizes. The crowd really got into it, enthusiastically participating in and cheering for such games as the "Best Endzone Dance" and "Best Lip-Synch."
Regarding the prizes, the outpouring of support from the bodyboarding industry was so great that a bodyboard was given away every five minutes for two full hours, along with a whole slew of other accessories. When it was all over, there were lots of happy faces in the audience with boards tucked under their arms.
After the festivities, a "grind session" at the Bubba Gump Shrimp Company restaurant followed. The lunch was to feed the slew of hungry bodyboarders and to allow the press an opportunity to find out more about the upcoming Mike Stewart International Pipeline Pro event. T&C Surf generously sponsored both the promo and the lunch; their way of giving back to the bodyboarding industry.
Sponsors included: T&C Surf, Mike Stewart Bodyboards, Da Kine, Custom X, Da Fin, Manta, Elemenohpee, BSD, Viper Surfing Fins, Industry, Tech Finz, Redleys, No Friends, and Bubba Gump Shrimp Company restaurant.
All in all it was a great day that put some serious bodyboarding stoke into many people's lives.
For those who hadn't heard, surf clothing manufacturer Quiksilver has just dropped its entire Australian bodyboard team of riders. Those to loose their sponsorship are Garth McGregor, Michael Crawley, Kane Cox, Murray Bell, John Gibson and Mason Rose. Needless to say the guys were less than impressed.
So, next time you're about to buy a surf product you might want to consider whether the manufacturing company supports bodyboarding and consider supporting those companies that do.
Those of you in Hawaii should get along
and check out the following event.
Event: Mike Stewart International Pipeline Pro presents the T&C Go
Big or Go Home promo
Date: Tuesday, January 2nd, 2000
Time: 12 - 2 PM
Location: Ala Moana Shopping Center, Centerstage (Oahu, Hawaii)
Bodyboarders scheduled to attend: Mike Stewart, Andre Botha, Guilerme
Tamega, Kainoa McGee, Jerrett Lau, Oishi Grady, Mitch Rawlins, Fred
Booth, Keone Gunderson, Ruben Quinones, Brian Hinton, Simon Thornton,
Dave Winchester, Chris White, Jacky Buder, Jon Kelly Hanoa, Chad
Militante, Spencer Skipper, Kyle Maligro, Jeff Hubbard, Ross McBride,
Aka Lyman, Joey Vieira, Rex Moribe, Ben Severson, Brian Wise.
Town and Country Surf Designs (T&C) is generously sponsoring the
"Mike Stewart International Pipeline Pro presents the T&C Go
Big or Go Home" bodyboarding promotion. This is T&C's way of
giving back to the bodyboarding industry. In a show of solidarity, almost every
bodyboarding company has banded together to help promote the industry
by donating prizes--lots of prizes. In fact, the outpouring of support
was so great that a bodyboard will be given away at least every five
minutes for two full hours, along with other gear and goodies. All you
have to do is sign up and be willing to participate in the games to be
held onstage (hosted by Augie T.). The promo is in support of the the
Mike Stewart International Pipeline Pro contest, with a waiting
period of 8-17 January 2001. This winter has been pretty epic so far,
with Pipe going richters (most notably during the Pipe Masters). With a
little good fortune, this could be a stellar year, and could
complete the "Super Tour" trifecta (Teahupo'o/Shark Island/Pipeline).
Over the next two years GO Bodyboarders will establish Eight Events in the best waves the world has to offer for bodyboarding. This will form the basis of how the Men's and Women's World Champions will be chosen over future years.
The 2001 GO Bodyboarders Men's World Champion will be chosen from a minimum of Two Events. The GO Bodyboarders Board has decided the method that will choose the 32 competitors (including one wild card) that will ensure that the best possible athletes represent the sport in this most important first year.
The 2001 Super Tour will consist of 32 riders composed from:
- 18 GOB 2000 Tour
- 8 Peer Poll - Top Eight Places
- 5 places - GOB Board Selection
- 1 place - Wild Card / Regional Competitor
The GO Bodyboarders Board believes this process will ensure the people who been competiting on the GO Bodyboarders Tour are rewarded with enough places. The board must also ensure there are enough places for bodyboarders who have not been able to compete on the GO Bodyboarders Tour for whatever reason, but would shine at such events also gain access to the Super Tour year one. The Board wants to unite these two groups of bodyboarders into one and deliver the best arena possible for them to show their abilities.
The Super Tour Peer Poll will be for one year only. During 2001 there will be an expanded GO Bodyboarders World Tour that will qualify Bodyboarders for the next years Super Tour. There will be more events in isolated wave locations while supporting and developing more events in City locations that cater for Sponsor and Government needs. To provide a career path for all bodyboarders we need to blend both and support both with the same vigour and commitment.
Who can enter the Peer Poll to get into the Super Tour?
There are 13 places available through the Peer Poll for Athletes who complete and sign the Entry Form and include the $US200 nomination fee.
You can Direct Deposit the GO Bodyboarders Account in Australia or include a Bank Cheque with your application Form then Express Post to ensure its arrival ASAP. Applications must be received at the GO Bodyboarders Office in Torquay Australia on the 15th of December 2000.
Who gets to vote?
Each region is to choose the top people from the most legitimate competition system in their region. There are a total of 200 voters.
- Brasil 32
- Australasia 32
- Europe 32
- USA 32
- Japan 16
- South Africa 16
- Bodyboard Industry 20
- Magazines 12
- Photographers/Video Makers 8
Voting forms will be available on the 16th of December and must be returned by the 5th of January 2001. Forms can be returned to Derek Hulme at the Check in to Pipeline. Emailed or posted to the Address on the form.
If a form is not returned by the due date to the right person the votes are lost to the Peer Poll. (No correspondence entered into). The Peer poll is the ONLY WAY to compete on the Super Tour if you don't qualify through the GO Bodyboarders World Tour! You can download the form here.
To all riders who are interested in the direction of the sport,
My name is Adrian Hybner, I am a Sydney based bodyboarder who has been competing for the last 13 years, I finished 2nd on last years GOB Australasian Circuit and 17th on the GOB World Tour. I am currently team manager for Custom X, Elemenope, 2013, and Redley and am setting up a bodyboard day tour business and running coaching clinics.
I am writing this because I am concerned about the future of the sport, and want to see the riders have more say in the direction the sport takes. I would also like to see the level of professionalism in the sport rise to a respectable level to ensure the sport, as a whole is a more marketable product.
Currently, most riders are unaware of what goes on behind the scenes. The structure of the sport is such that only a few riders actually get to hear what is really going on in the industry. There are riders representatives at numerous meetings at State and National levels, though it is rare and hard to pass the information on to every rider, let alone a few. For example Tyson Williams is the National Riders Rep, but how many people have actually taken the time to discuss what has gone on in all the meetings in which he attends? And what is Bullet (the National Bodyboarding Coaching Director) up to on the coaching front? He and a handful of other riders have taken their time to attend these meetings and develop programs on all the riders’ behalf. So why can’t YOU take the time to find out a little more about the sport, which may play the largest role in YOUR FUTURE.
Setting up a riders association will allow this information to pass on to YOU, the riders, and ensure that a level of standards are set to create total professionalism of the sport.
The Association of Bodyboarding Professionals
Aim:
- To unite bodyboarders as a whole to ensure the future of the sport is, in part, governed by the riders.
How:
- Ensure all riders are aware/ informed about current issues in Bodyboarding
- Enabling decisions to be made by the riders as a group to ensure unity
- Setting a strict code of conduct and guidelines for the riders to ensure the professionalism of the sport
- Ensure information from riders representatives are passed on to each rider
- By setting standards which the sports’ current governing body must abide by
Why:
- To ensure the sport looks professional
- To ensure everyone can work together
- To make the sport more attractive to mainstream sponsorship dollars
- Ensure the structure of the sport will only get stronger
- Make the sport more presentable to mainstream media and the general public
- To allow more riders to actually make a living out of the sport
What Do You Get
- Your funding will be used for mail out and stationary fees
- You will receive an update letter every 2 months. This will contain reports on the state of the sport and its current issues, updates of events, information on new web sites and product innovation, coaching developments etc.
- A say in the future direction and running of the sport
- An opportunity to voice your ideas to other riders.
The ABP will also work to develop a set of bodyboarding standards for various aspects of the sport. These will include:
- Setting award “
sponsorship” levels for riders to companies.
This will be based around certain performance and exposure criteria. As a group this will allow everyone to know basically what they are worth. To a sponsor this will allow an easier selection system and let them know that the riders will be doing their best to provide what is asked of them. It will also allow for the further development of professionalism in the sport.
The ABP will not interfere with individual riders sponsorship contracts, but merely try and raise the level riders are worth. - Setting Minimum Standards
For the GOB To Abide By
This will be done to ensure the people running the sport are doing their jobs properly. Remember they are controlling our sports future. Issues to be addressed include:
minimum judging requirements for each rated level of competition
ensure competitors receive t-shirts, cheques and trophies etc.
Ensure good wave locations etc
Ensure good representation of the sport
Ensure decisions made have rider input - Setting A Professional
Code Of Conduct For All Riders
The ABP will set up a strict set of conduct guidelines which riders must abide to. Such issues as swearing, drunk disorderly conduct, criminal offences, drugs (yes drugs), personal presentation, turning up to store or other promotional event for sponsors of competitions etc will be set in paper and addressed accordingly.
- Set Up A Professionalism
Course
A professionalism course will be developed to ensure the top riders are presentable at all times. These people must realise they are not just representing themselves and their sponsors but also the sport. Such issues include presentation to media, eg: being able to speak in front of a camera instead of ”I did heaps good, and the surf was heaps sick, Um, Or, Ar…. “. This isn’t presentable to anyone outside of your mates and will not help the sports overall appearance. ie Sponsorship $$$$$$$. The course will also cover issues such as personal management
To do this I am willing to spend my personal unpaid time to get the association started. To do it properly we must vote for who we want to run it, and pay for mail out and stationary costs. We also have to register as an Association if we are to be taken seriously.
Current Funds
To start with GOB Australasia will provide assistance with the mail out costs as they see it being a valuable part of the sports future. To set the ABP up properly we must register with the relevant Government departments and abide by numerous regulations. These costs will have to be worn by the riders and included in their fees. (This may mean you might have to pay $20 instead of $10). Final figures will not be official until there has been a response by the riders and the matter looked into further.
Getting Started
You can get started by
downloading the form,
filling it out and returning it to PO Box 1318 Mona Vale.
ASAP! Take the time to get off your asses and help yourselves and the
future you all want and believe in. Remember you only get out what you
put in.
Regards
Adrian “Slug” Hybner
In the womens event, Brazilian Soraia Rocha took out the title in front of Rita Pires with Claudia Ferrari and Heloise Bourroux sharing the minor placings.
S.D.S/ Mike Stewart Shark Island Challenge presented By Snappi Vortex got under way after 2.5 weeks of its waiting period, waves were solid 6-8 ft from the E-SE direction, the most dangerous and most spectacular wave direction for world class wave(Shark Island), making first round conditions a real challenge for the international classed field. Stand outs were Dave Ballard form Cronulla, Mike Stewart from Hawaii, Ryan Hardy from Western Australia and Damien King from Port Macquarie.
Contest Director Mark Fordham said many of the competitors suffered cuts and bruise from the unforgiving Shark island reef.
Round Two saw smaller waves, 3-5ft though just as challenging, instead of big tubes riders were confined to radical manoeuvres and wave selection.For the first time in the challenges 4 year history a tie for 2nd place occurred. From 1st place to 4th place only 8 points separated them.The presentation night was held at the Voodoo lounge at Cronulla, winners go as follows.
| Placing | Name | Prize |
| 1st | Mike Stewart | $6,000 |
| 2nd | Ryan Hardy | $2,500 |
| Damien King | $2,500 | |
| 4th | Dave Ballard | $1,000 |
| 5th | Andrew Lester | $750 |
| Steve Mackenzie | $750 | |
| 7th | Adam Smith | $500 |
| Toby Player | $500 |
| Special Awards | |
| Biggest Barrel | Mike Stewart |
| Best Manoeuvre | Ryan Hardy |
| Best Wipeout | Nathan Purcell. |
Special
thanks to our sponsors
Surf Dive 'N' Ski.
Mike Stewart 'Science Bodyboards'
The Surf Travel Co Cronulla
DreamWeaver Adventures Bali
I.D media webcasters
Peter Michael's Seafoods, Cronulla Dean Martin Communication. Cronulla
Fruit Fair, Cronulla Mark Warren 2MMM FM Sydney Voodoo Lounge, Cronulla
Mark
Fordham, Contest Director
http://www.sharkislandchallenge.com
Today the conditions at Shark Island is 4-6 ft south to south east swell with a southerly cross wind. Sunday / Monday now looks good for the start of the Shark Island Challenge, all depending on how big the swell is in the morning. The swell forecast from our panel of experts are calling for an E/SE swell direction - which happens to be the most exciting and heaviest direction for the Island... fingers crossed.....
Mark
Fordham, Contest Director
http://www.sharkislandchallenge.com
A low pressure system in the Tasman Sea is expected to deepen off the NSW far south coast during today, moving north-east tonight. Winds turning W/SW 20/30 knots on the south coast during the morning and increasing to 35/45 knots tonight. Seas forecasted to rise up to 2-3 metres tonight, increasing to 3-5 metres early Friday morning. Looks like Friday/Saturday for the Challenge, all depending on how big the swell is in the morning. Swell forecast is for a E/SE direction which is the best and heaviest direction for the Island. Shark Island was again 2-4ft lefts and rights this morning with W winds. More as things develop.
Mark
Fordham, Contest Director
http://www.sharkislandchallenge.com
Kyle Maligro from Hawaii again takes the Flow Master title in the world's most incredible artificial wave!
The Schlitterbahn Waterpark, in New Braunfels, Texas, was the first waterpark in the world to build a FlowRider(TM). The FlowRider(TM), which is a stationary artificial wave was devised by San Diego, California surfer/inventor Tom Lochtefeld ten years ago and featured a padded, wave-shaped incline that forms a wave when 100,000 gallons of water per minute is forced up it's surface enabling riders to ride continuously on a powerful simulation of an 8 foot ocean wave.
Kalaheo, Hawaii's Kyle Maligro pulled out all the stops once again to take home the gold in the 9th Annual World FlowRider(TM) Bodyboarding Championships at Schlitterbahn Waterpark in New Braunfels, Texas this past weekend. Maligro, 30, now living in California topped the field of nearly 20 of the country's top bodyboarders in both the Dropknee and Prone divisions, and placed 2nd in the Standup division to accumulate 290 total points, easily enough points to be crowned "Flow Master". Tara Higgins of Laguna Niguel, California upset 4-time winner Vicki Gleeson-Reale, a transplanted Aussie living with her husband in California to take the win in the Women's Open division over Gleeson-Reale in 2nd, Imperial Beach, California's Erica Donaldson in 3rd and Brazilian Monica Dell'Amore in 4th.
Early rounds of the event featured a unique format in which riders "claimed" rides that they wanted to be scored, and working through the field were mostly experienced flow riders. The men's prone final featured Maligro, several time runner-up Jay Reale, 36, from San Clemente, CA, New Braunfels local police officer and former Waterpark employee Heath Purvis in 3rd, and California's Jacob Reeve in 4th who all spun and rolled their way into the final. Maligro took the win with consistent, error-free riding and constant manoeuvring. The Dropknee final again featured Maligro showing excellent frontside form, as well as former winner Robby Crawford of Huntington Beach who threw big snaps on his backhand to take 2nd. Tustin, CA's Sean Manning in 3rd, and Pompano, FL's Eric Thomas in 4th. The Standup division was narrowly taken out by Lomita, CA's Chris Granone - the director of the FlowRider(TM) Summer Series, who, at 36 is one of the most experienced flow boarders in the world. 2nd went to Maligro, 3rd to Eric Thomas whose score was adjusted due to the fact that he used footstraps on his board, and 4th went to Hawaii's Chris Johnson.
Also, to round out the competition, a "Best Air" division was held where competitors ran and launched themselves up and off the top of the wave for maximum height and radicalness, and Jacob Reeve of Santa Barbara, CA took that out in a final that saw some serious wipeouts.
| Three versions of highlights are available. | |||
 |
Tahiti
Skins 2000 - 2452Kb: 320x200, 24 frames/sec, 42sec |
Tahiti
Skins 2000 - 1116Kb: 240x180, 15 frames/sec, 42sec |
Tahiti
Skins 2000 - 502Kb: 160x120, 12.5 frames/sec, 43sec |
Frenchman Nicolas Capdeville, a finalist at last years Mike Stewart International Pro, was the first competitor to pull out of the Tahiti Skins 2000. He decided that "the waves are pretty bad" and he had "to get back home to work”.
The Women's event has already been decided with Stephanie Pettersen coming out ahead of Neymara Carvalho, Soraia Rocha and Karla Costa
The U.S. Open is a huge event that has a long history at Huntington Beach, and features ASP surfing competition in shortboard and longboard, as well as numerous beach events all going on in the carnival-like atmosphere of Surf City, USA, right in the hub of the world's surf industry. Look for the live webcast of the event at bluetorch.com.
The bodyboarding portion of the event, which is the second of the Manta Bodyboard Series (the first at Trestles in late April, and the third in Virginia Beach in late August) is not only an event on the World Tour, but will also be a part of crowning a U.S. Pro Champion at the third event in August.
Some of the world's top bodyboarders are expected to compete in Huntington for valuable points to become U.S. and World Champ including reigning World Champ Andre Botha from South Africa, and current U.S. Champ Paul Cooper from Hawaii, as well as to get a chunk of the $15,000 purse. The event will be televised on Fox Sports.
The Manta U.S. Open of Bodyboarding will also act as the first men's event on the all-new GOB Qualifying Series for the impending 2001 GOB Super Tour, as well as qualifying mainland U.S. riders for the annual World Championships at Pipeline in January of 2001 where this year's Tour will wrap up.
Following the event in Huntington, the GOB will be sanctioning an event during Pit Bodyboard Magazine's 3rd Cabo Freak Fest- a week-long bodyboarding gathering in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. For the first time ever, you can follow the Freak Fest on bluetorch.com's webcast or catch footage from the trip on Fox Sports Network. An all-new Shorebreak Contest will be the highlight of the trip as a GOB Specialty event featuring some of the world's best battling it out in ferocious conditions.
Jay Reale
GOB Board Member and Press Agent
This is very much a diplomatic mission for bodyboarding. We are using the facilities of the stand-up contest prior, which will spend around $USD1,000,000 and we have a $aud80K budget. We are coming after the stand up and I have given my word that no competitors will enter the water at Teahupoo during the Stand -up contest. We are allowed in as soon as its finished. So we are the little fish that need to be the nice guys to ensure the local community want us back year after year.
Sorry, but I must lay down the LAW Be quite clear. Any agro/abuse from bodyboarders-we will come down like a ton of bricks. We are the good guys without egos. I have a very strong reputation of not being crossed on such issues, YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.
Good, the serious stuff is over. I want everyone to have fun but we have some rules to follow. We don't want people arriving until the 20th because Surfers will be in our accommodations. The event cannot start until the 21st. We will advise you of the location of the check-in. The meeting at 7will be at 7.30pm on the 20th to discuss the heat draw, event rules and prospects of arriving swells.
It is going to be a great 10 days that we will be there. This is the start of the new future for a contest venue for bodyboarding.
I have learned so many things from many wonderful people. I wish to thank all of you. You all contributed to my business knowledge and the pleasurable experience while at Morey. I will be building my sales reaping business and will continue to do whatever I can to assist in building the sport of bodyboarding.
Please stay in touch.
Much Mahalo (thank you) and Aloha (love) to all of you,
JP Patterson
This is the official release to confirm that Spencer Skipper is no longer riding for Manta Bodyboards and Blade Swimfins. Spencer confirmed with me yesterday that he has signed a new contact with Dojo (the previous Manta Distributor in the USA). Dojo will be producing boards under a new name and Skipp will be a part of their team.
On behalf of everyone at Manta, we wish him all the best for his future. There is no hard feelings and Skipp himself had no problems with Manta Surfing Products, it was purely a business decision. We now move ahead with great intentions of staying on top.
I look forward to sending you all a much more pleasant release when we have some healthy news in the not so distant future.
Kind Regards, Aloha and Mahalo,
David Clark
Promotions & Marketing
Manta Surfing Products Pty Ltd
E-mail: dclark@manta.com.au
His legend grew when, facing terminal cancer, he spent his savings on others, left a note and $5,000 for a party and paddled out to sea to die. Comatose, he was rescued. But on Monday, Wolfson was killed when his car veered off the Marina Freeway, went down an embankment and hit a tree. He was 50.
Kevin Cody, who wrote some of the early pieces on "Dr. 360" for his South Bay publication Easy Reader, recalled how Wolfson got his nickname. "He would sit on a board and spin three, four or five times across the face of a wave," Cody said. He was the first to do this manoeuvre, a 360. Wolfson went on to win national and international competitions in the sport. He created his own bodyboard, which he sold at local surf shops.
Fearless in the water, he took on big, fast surf. And he was one of the first Americans to regularly surf Puerto Escondido, the Mexican pipeline. "He gave it [the bodyboard] respectability by showing you could take off on big waves," Cody said.
The life of the health-conscious Wolfson--he did not smoke or drink and was fit enough to stay in the water for up to 10 hours on his bodyboard--took a dramatic turn in early 1998. He was plagued by a persistent cough, and after an initial treatment for asthma and then sinus trouble, was finally diagnosed as having inoperable cancer. He took a leave of absence from his job as a recreation official with the city of Carson, but his wide-ranging attempts at treatment didn't work.
Wolfson devised a plan. He paddled his bodyboard about 150 yards off Manhattan Beach, tied up at a buoy and waited to die. In the preceding months, he had drained more than $100,000 from his bank account doing things for others, including paying for a friend's laser eye surgery and two years' tuition at UC Berkeley for another friend's son. He left a suicide note with a check for a party after his death.
But his plan went awry when lifeguard Tracy Geller noticed something bobbing in the water. Geller raced out on his board and began giving Wolfson mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. As he approached shore with the comatose Wolfson, Geller whistled to surfers near the shoreline for help. After nearly six hours in 59-degree water, Wolfson's temperature had dropped to 81 degrees, and he lay shivering for hours in a hospital. But he still wanted to die.
Geller also had a hand in changing that. A teacher at the New Manhattan Beach Middle School, Geller urged the students in his physical education class to write to Wolfson. Most of the 33 letters gushed about Wolfson's talent on the board and how he had become an inspiration to the kids on the beach.
"I didn't really understand why I
was alive until I read those letters," Wolfson later told a Times
reporter. "Then I said, 'OK, you made a big mistake here.' It was
the worst message in the world I could send them."
Wolfson's own childhood began in Brooklyn, N.Y. He was the eldest of
three children of Harry and Rhoda Wolfson, who were both union and labor
activists. The family moved to north Long Beach from Washington, D.C.,
in 1956. With their parents' blessing, the children were bused to school
in Compton, where Wolfson became student body president at Dominguez
High School. By then, the beach and surfing consumed him. While a
student at UCLA, he moved to Manhattan Beach. He never left.
A celebration of his life will be held about 2:30 p.m. Monday near the lifeguard station at 23rd Street and Marine Avenue in Manhattan Beach. He is survived by his parents and sisters, Paula and Ellen. The family said people are welcome to come and share stories about Dr. 360.