50th Anniversary of the Boogieboard

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Carol Philips, photo shoot, mid-1990s, photo by Brian Bielmann. Carol was a pioneer in women's bodyboarding in Hawaii not just competitively, but behind the scenes running contests and pushing for equal access. Oh, and she charged at massive Pipeline.

 

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Micah McMullin, Semi-secret spot, 1/31/15. Again, here's to the underground riders around the world; our unsung heroes who charge. "Da Hammah" is an exceptional dropknee rider but also regularly scores good ones on da belly.

 

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Jeff Hubbard, 2007 Rockstar Games Pipeline Pro, 1/13/2007. Flying past me en route to the contest win and his first of three world championship titles.

 

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Mike Stewart with Mary Lee Christensen, Morey Boogie World Championships, 1991. Moment of victory. Btw, this was scanned off of a black-and-white contact sheet of print negatives (anybody remember those?).

 

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Fabio Aquino1994 Morey Bodyboards World Championships, 1994. Brazilian Fabio charged hard at Pipe.

 

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Toby Player and Ben Player, Rockstar Games Pipeline Pro, 1/12/06. After Ben secured the IBA world title and "nearly" won the contest, Ben exclaimed to everyone, "I love my brother!" Such a touching moment.

 

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Recent history in the making: Go Big or Go Home; promo event for the Mike Stewart Pipeline Invitational; Pearlridge Shopping Center; 2/22/20. These pro bodyboarders stoked out a lot of kids and parents alike. Mahalo Danny Black for allowing me to poach this shot that you set up.

Timothy Hamilton, Ian McCollough, Mike Stewart, unknown, Jimmy Hutaff, Thiago Limeira, Magno Oliveira Passos, Dudu Pedra, Ayaka Suzuki, Mack Crilley, Patrick Orr, David Hubbard, Jeff Hubbard, Daylan-Kainoa Saniatan, Colin Black.

 

[theramrod]

Thank you Sponge for all these shots. They are amazing and really fuel the stock!

 

[Jeff Tribe]

Thank you for sharing. Love that pics

 

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Nelz Vellocido, Pipeline, 1991. Charging one early morning thirty years ago (has it been that long?).

 

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Matt Walbrou, Morey Bodyboard World Championships, Pipeline, 1994. Photo again by the talented Joseph Libby. From Tahiti, Matt was another groundbreaking international rider. RIP.

 

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Ben Holland and (confirmed) Leila Alli, Mike Stewart International Pipeline Pro, Ma'ili Point, 1/18/2001. Ben was a phenomenal rider and was looking at a potential world title. Unfortunately he lost early when the contest was moved from Pipe to Ma'ili Point, opening up the opportunity for Paulo Barcellos. Pondering what could have been.

 

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David "Dubb" Hubbard, Pipeline, 4/15/12. Kauai boy, multiple world dropknee championships, just a bit more outgoing than brother Jeff. Obtw, he has a solid prone game too.

 

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Babby Quiñones, 2007 Rockstar Games Pipeline Pro, 1/13/07. One of several Puerto Rican pioneers who charged the North Shore for many years. Solid rider and solid friend.

 

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Jeff Hubbard, Pipeline, 3/21/13. The champ on a burly one.

 

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Damian King, 2006 Rockstar Games Pipeline Pro, 1/12/06. Two time world champion from Australia and I believe dropknee champ too.

 

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Kai K Santos, Sandy Beach, 1990ish. Hardcore waterman. Son of pillowcase rider Al Santos. Was a surfer until he cut his artery with his surfboard. Bodyboard cover shot rider. Broke his back while skydiving. Champion and extreme bodysurfer. Now back on the boogie with his own Triad bodyboard model. Good soul.

 

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Spencer Skipper, Jeff Hubbard, Mike Stewart, and Dave Hubbard; Fire Video Hawaii Premiere; Dave and Busters, Honolulu; 1/23/2009. Terribly blurry shot of some of our legends.

 

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Aka Lyman, Sandy Beach contest, circa 1990. Dropknee is a stance that is pretty much exclusive to bodyboarding, and Aka was an awesome example from Hawaii. Even when he was young, he displayed his stylish chops while riding "jackstance."

 

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Dean Seppings (South Africa), Pipeline, 11/24/1996. Always charged. This Saffa always charged hard.