The history of Avoca Boardriders

The early history of Avoca Boardriders is a little vague, although we do know that in the very early days there were a couple of unsuccessful attempts to kick off a club at Avoca. Even an offer to start an official chapter of the American club by Wind‘N’Sea was made. In the late 60’s and early 70’s it was pretty well hippy days and being organised was not really on the agenda. Around 1974 a core group including Bruce Turner, Rob Kercher, Wayne Lyndon and Grant “Trophy” Fuller — with support from all the locals, decided to form the club.

Avoca Beach was a different place at that time — soul surfing was the order of the day. Wayne Lyndon was the original president. Things were pretty loose, but the guys manage to have a competition every month and at the end of the first year Graham Way (a graceful goofy–footer) was crowned the first A–grade champion.

Some of the early competitions against Norah Head saw the likes of Bruce Turner, Pete McCredie, C Way, Rockhead, Woolhead and the Harris Brothers going head–to–head. A rivalry between Glen & Dean Winton, the Harris Bro’s and others has lain dormant for years; only now in the 2000’s with clubs like the MOB and Wameral has a new rivalry been awakened.