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: the legrope
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The Legrope : 1974 - 1976
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history
: the legrope
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| 1974 The leg-rope, or leash in the USA, is a surfboard accessory, however its widespread adoption from 1974 to 1977 had a huge impact on surfboard design, principally by removing commercial barriers to lightweight construction. Furthermore, it had a direct impact on surfing performance ... 1. Progressive manoeuvres and a more aggressive technique could be adopted without paying the penalty of a swim to the beach. 2. Wave counts increased dramatically with the elimination of swimming time and the TOAD syndrome. (Take Off And Die) 3. Board destroying rock breaks were ridden without a financial/board repair penalty. 4. Despite an initial resistance to use in large surf, it could be argued that over time surfers were became more confident in larger waves with the assistance of the leg-rope. It's contribution to the upsurge of surfing performance in this period (as typified by Rabbit Batholomew's Breaking Down the Door article, circa 1976) was not noted by the major contributors (unlike their board designs) and is rarely acknowledged by journalists and historians. Eventually the legrope became recognised as a safety device, both for the rider and for other surfers in the water Brad Mayes, board and legrope,
Bondi, 1974.
Tracks #46 July
1974, page 10.
circa 1970 - Originally a hand leash fixed to the nose (Control Products USA), it was rapidly adopted as a rope and strap (commonly a sock or handkerchief ) tied to a hole in the fin. By 1974 commercial models of rope/latex tubing and velcro strap were widely available, however manufacturers were slow to fit leg-rope plugs to new boards until leg-rope use was accepted in professional contests. In the mid 1980’s the rope inside latex tubing construction was replaced by moulded urethane. Breakway, August 1974: Legropes-3 alternatives. International Surfing October-November 1974 Volume10 Number 5 : It's the Leash You Can Do by Bill Mount
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| Tracks #46 July 1974
Cover story: Storm Issue Interview: Brad Mayes Movies: Drouyn and Friends, Rolling Home, Red Hot Blue. Advertisements: Surfcords by Surf Aids, Byron Bay. Palma Surf Mats, Crystal Voyager, Golden Breed, Neilson Bros., O'Neill (Gerry Lopez),  Page
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| 1974
Morey Boogie Flexible foam bellyboard invented by Tom Morey as an offshoot of his experimentation leading to the Morey-Doyle flexible surfboard. Based on the Hawaiian paipo and incorporating flex and ‘vacuum track rails’ (Greenough / Brock hull design). The soft construction circumvented bodysurfing area restrictions. Originally offered as a buyer assembled mail order product. Extensively imitated. |
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| 1974 Bonzer Original design by Campbell Bros. (USA) in 1973, features tri fin setup with long base keel side fins combined with single to double concaves bottom. Usually a square or swallow tail. Australian models by Peter Townend at Gordon and Smith Surfboards and Terry Richardson at Skipp Surfboards. Bonzer bottom revived in 1995. |
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Photograph : Dan Merkel Surfing Magazine March 1984 Volume 20 Number 3 page 111. |
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| Tracks
#53 - February 1975 Cover: All Aussie Issue Contests: Pa Bendall Contest, Sunshine Coast, 1st Michael Peterson ($2000) on Fang tail, Keith Paull freakout, Interview: Guy Ormerod and Chip Greenfield. Pacific Cruising Newcastle Byron Bay. Tony Edwards: Captain Goodvibes Advertising: Michael Peterson Surfboards - Goodvibes T-shirts ($15 each) - Dion blanks - Best of Tracks. Page 7  Shag of the Month Photo Frank Pithers The News and
Opinions section included a petition to Mr Willis,
the NSW Minister for Education, in support of the
introduction of school surfing.
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 Points Allocation for Bells Beach Contest, Easter 1975. Note points for Hang-five, Hang-ten, and Stretch-five. |
| Tracks #57 -
June 1975 Page 1
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 Page 30: Aqua-Lid |
| Surfing World
Volume 21 Number 6 September 1975
In Search Of The Zahir
(Summercloud Bay)
Shaun Tomson Interview
Australian Championships (The
Australian Titles)
Polynesian Islands
Southern Competition
Australian Universities Surfing
Champs
Coalcliff
A New Objective Judging System
The Lightning Bolt Contest |
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| Tracks #61 - October 1975
Cover story: The UFO Issue (Terry Fitzgerald, shapes by Erle Pedersen) Contests: Newcastle, won by Michael Peterson. Advertisements: G and S Surfboards (shops at Liverpool, Bondi, Hurstville, Bulli and Parramatta) Centre poster: Crystal Cylinders. This full-page photograph shows an
early attempt at unencumbered flight
- page number, surfer, location, and photographer unknown. By the early 21st century, the surfer would be expected to land his/her air. Breakway Number 23 -
October 1975, pages 12-13.
Tom Petersen Interview: Breakway: What sort of boards are you riding now? Tom: Swallow-tail flyers. How long have you been riding them? Tom: 15 months. Breakway: What got you started on flyers? Tom: One I got of Owl Chapman. I think it was shaped by (pause) ... I think Owl shaped it himself, I'm not quite sure. He broke the tail off it at the Bower at about 12 foot so I bought it off him when he was up here watching the Australian titles. After that, I sort of like flyers. Breakway: Breakway: |
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Tom Petersen Interview
Breakway Number 23 - October 1975, pages 12-13. Breakway: What sort of boards are you riding now? Tom: Swallow-tail flyers. Breakway: How long have you been riding them? Tom: 15 months. Breakway: What got you started on flyers? Tom: One I got of Owl Chapman. I think it was shaped by (pause) ... I think Owl shaped it himself, I'm not quite sure. |
 Tom Petersen
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| Michael Petersen and Double Flyer
Fang-tail Tracks February 1975 page 6. |
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| 1975 Stinger Original design by Ben Apia (Hawaii) featuring flyers 2/3rds back from the nose (see 422) combined with a stepped bottom (see Hydroplane). Popular design in 1976 as surfed by Mark Richards and Larry Bertelman (Hawaii). Widely copied, but most models did not incorporate the initial design’s stepped bottom. Sea Horse Surfboards circa 1974 |
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Mark Richards, Backdoor
Pipeline, December 1975. Photograph : Dan Merkel Surfing March 1984 Volume 20 Number 3 page 111. |
| Tracks
January 1976, page 7. And
Where Were You, Michael Peterson?
Michael Peterson received his invitation to the Smirnoff the day after it started. Contest Director, Fred Hemmings, sent it at the same time he sent everyone else's. Only he sent everyone else's airmail, and somehow Michael's went seamail. Michael relaxed on his dunny roof in Queensland and thought about the whole thing while in over in the Islands, the crew speculated on when, and if, he would arrive. Owl Chapman phoned Australia on Christmas Eve and asked "Where's Peterson man?" As we go to press, Michael is still in Queensland and with the pro contest circuit entering its final stages, it seems unlikely he will make it. Michael was unavailable for comment but, according to friends, he is pissed off with the unfair treatment he's received from Hemmings and other contest officials who seem reluctant (scared?) to let him compete. Well, what's the story Fred?  |
 Photos:
Martin Tullmans
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 Rabbit
Batholomew : ?
International Surfing April-May 1976 Volume 12 Number 2, page 56. Photo: Dan Merkel |
 Rabbit Batholomew : ? Surfer Photos 1976, Number 6, page 80. |
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Rabbit Batholomew : Off The Wall Surfer Photographs No 6 Summer 1976, page 81. Photo: Wilkins Pipeline Tracks #67 April 1976 page 39 |
| Tracks
#68 May 1976 Cover: Jeff Hakman wins Bells Beach Contest Bells Beach Surf Fashions A History of Reefer Madness Rusty Miller: Byron Bay Interviews- Bobby Owens (Hawaii), Maurie Fleming, Paul Neilsen. Tony Edwards: Captain Goodvibes Bells Designs: Ian Cairns- three Tom Parrish shaped Lightning Bolts Reno Abellira- four boards including his 5'7" twin fin fish Mark Warren- three Geoff McCoy shapes Peter Townend- 7'6" single fin gun (19.25" x 12.25" nose and 10.5" tail Bobby Owens Design- Ping-pong ball blanks, by Dick Van Straalen Advertising Levi's King Cord, with King Kong modelling the jeans. The Best of Tracks Volume 2 . The Tracker Drag Shute, parachute legrope. Golden Breed Surf Movie Guide- The Traveling Surfing Picture Show, with Super Sessions, A Sea for Yourself, Going Surfin', Forgotten Island of Santosha, Island Magic, Tales from the Tube, 5 Summer Stories,The Cosmic Children, Hot Lips and Inner Tubes, and Zephyr by (Yuri Farrant). |
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Advertisement, Left: The Tracker Drag Shute [parachute legrope] New product review by Craig Leggat. Tracks #68, May 1976, page 31. Right:
.Drag Shute printed package. . Images
kindly forwarded by Ray Henderson,
January 2016. |
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Left: Drag Shute package. Right:
.Tracker Drag Shute. Images
kindly forwarded by Ray Henderson,
January 20016. |
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Reno Abellira and twin fin,
2SM / Coke Surfabout, Narrabeen, 1976. Surfing World Volume 24 Number 4 ? page 42 Reno Abellira and boards, 2SM / Coke Surfabout, 1976. Surfing World Volume 24 Number 4 ? page 32 |
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Terry
Richarson, Wreck Bay, 1976.
Photograph by Peter Crawford 1st place in Tracks Photo Competition. Tracks Number 70, July 1976, page 20. Centrefold
Surfing World
Volume 22 Number 6 March 1976 |
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| 1976 Channel Bottom design by Jim Pollard based on Groove Ridge Theory by Jim Richardson and Art Shafer (both USA) circa 1975. Originally (4 or 6) shallow and narrow concave lines in the bottom of a board followed the rail outline and ran almost the full length of the board. Later designs exited at flyers and by 1980’s had standardised as straight ridges parallel to the stringer. Contest success by Col Smith (Newcastle). |
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| Surfing World v23 n6 1976 September Page 38  Terry Fitzgerald.
Photo: Peter Crawford Page 2
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Page 39  Back Cover  |
 Rabbit Bartholomew
surfing Pipeline in his RipCurl Summer vest.
Photo: Hoole/McCoy  Photo: Dick Hoole |
| Tracks #75 December
1976. Phil Jarratt: California Dreaming, Part One. Jarratt Interview: John Milius on Big Wednesday. John Holmes: Yanks in Oz- Greenough, Bob Cooper, Jack McCoy, Rusty Miller, Michael Cundith, Derek Betner, Richie West Central America Design: Michael (Wilderness) Cundith on Twin Fins, Hulls by Robert Conneeley Interview with George Greenough: Alternative Energy and Power Good Vibes. Ian Cairns : Ohau
Brice Raymond : Pipeline Surfing World v23 n3 1976 June |
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Shaun
Tomson : Off The Wall
Surfing World v23 n2 1976 May, page 12. Filming Free Ride? |
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| 1st Ian
Cairns 2nd Terry Fitzgerald 3rd Rory Russell 4th Wayne Lynch 5th Terry Richardson |
6th Col
Smith (New) 7th Wayne Batholomew 8th Michael Petersen 9th Steve Jones 10th Michael Ho |
| SURFER
Vol 17 No 2 July 1976 Inside - Out Tube Views Special feature is Malibu. It covers the early history right through to 1976 with a comprehensive time line and history, photos and a gallery of surfboards from the eras past to present. Featuring a Malibu Fin Appendix a brilliant photo of Rick Griffin. Cover feature: Photos from the tube, includes centre fold. |
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| Tracks #72 Sept
1976 6th Birthday Issue What we haven’t covered this month didn’t happen. Terry Fitzgerald, photography by MartinTullemans: A Little Bit of Heaven in a Disaster Area. Phil Jarrett: Gong Surfing, article on surfing in Wollongong. Peter Townend: Gunston and Hang Ten contests David Knox: The dark side of South Africa Gary Johnson: Somewhere South of Teaquepaque, surfing in Mexico. Boardshorts review. Environment: Ron Ware on Survival; Zen Macrobiotics by Paul Holmes; Killer Weed Melmoth Grant writes on why dope is illegal; Hunter S. Thomson, The Dean of GonzoJournalism. Music: ‘RockJots’ by Adrian Rawlings; Bo Diddley at Manly Vale. Film review: Tubular Swells; Highway One interview with filmmaker Steve Otton. Tony Edwards: Captain Goodvibes Plus Gozzup, Bitsa, Letters Advertising: Rider. Real honest tobacco. |
| SURFER MAGAZINE Vol
17 No 4 November 1976 The Family Aikau Campbell bros. Bonzers AUSTRALIA CONTINUED ...A BEN APIA CENTREFOLD.. HAWAII ....TOWN AND COUNTRY A MAALAEA FEATURE .AN ARTICLE ON BONZER SURFBOARDS BY THE CAMPBELL BROS |
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