This footage is from a documentary made by Channel 9 Sydney on the 1978 Surfabout and which incidentally won a logie award for best sporting event. To my knowledge (and channel 9's detriment), it has never been released on video or DVD (shame). The finals were held at North Steyne (Manly) Beach.
@carljan57 In those days all 3 commercial networks put a lot of effort into making Surfabout shows yet they only screened them once. Thank goodness I had a VCR back then.
larry blair is a great surfer him and a good mate of his a local from norah head taught myself and brother how to charge on big waves we were only learning but they still took the time to take us to their fav breaks and teach us a few tricks! still surfing today thanks to these guys..
I was there, i was biased toward Lynch because he was such an influence on my surfing but Blair did get a few great tubes which won it for him. The surf that day was amazing! Pity Blair wasn't able to capitalise on this win, apparently he didn't have the personality or whatever to go on with it. I'm told he wasn't liked, not sure if that's true. Lynch is still ripping it up, whatever happened to Blair?
In the early 80's, Larry Blair became a beach inspector at Maroubra Beach. Then he moved up the coast, I think to Norah Head. In about 1999, I saw some footage of him surfing a 'legends' contest in Mexico, where he was easily slotting into 8 to 10 foot barrels. I heard he now lives in Bali (but I do not know for sure). But obviously he still surfs. His surfing in 1999 was as good as ever.
I remember the first Tracks i ever bought, February 1981. Report on the Pipe Masters. Everyone was against him, even the Aussies. I recall reading Tommy Carroll calling him a 'poof' & saying how he deliberately paddled into Larry as Larry took off. I read in later years the Hawaiians smashed all his boards that year & beat him up. Larry could have been 3 x Pipe Master. He is a legend. People forget what he acheived, winning Pipe x 2 at 18 and 19 yo. Beat Gerry, Rory, etc. Larry quit.
One of the classic final shoot outs, with two of the best surfers in the world at the time. Man awesome stuff wherever you found that, thank you, a real blast to see that again. there was still plenty of soul in surfing back then, even in the contests.....it saddens me to see what its become now.
This footage is from a documentary made by Channel 9 Sydney on the 1978 Surfabout and which incidentally won a logie award for best sporting event. To my knowledge (and channel 9's detriment), it has never been released on video or DVD (shame). The finals were held at North Steyne (Manly) Beach.
carljan57 1 week ago
@carljan57 In those days all 3 commercial networks put a lot of effort into making Surfabout shows yet they only screened them once. Thank goodness I had a VCR back then.
Dragferret 1 week ago
larry blair is a great surfer him and a good mate of his a local from norah head taught myself and brother how to charge on big waves we were only learning but they still took the time to take us to their fav breaks and teach us a few tricks! still surfing today thanks to these guys..
MrJb9297 10 months ago
THANK YOU!!! AWESOME!!!!
TOTVSTVVSMARIA 1 year ago
That was epic. I remember seeing that with the old man when i was 4 years old. All time acceptance speech too!
benofharbord 2 years ago
Lynch surfs single fins so well in the tube.Looks like he can go forever.
RockandRoller918 2 years ago
I was there, i was biased toward Lynch because he was such an influence on my surfing but Blair did get a few great tubes which won it for him. The surf that day was amazing! Pity Blair wasn't able to capitalise on this win, apparently he didn't have the personality or whatever to go on with it. I'm told he wasn't liked, not sure if that's true. Lynch is still ripping it up, whatever happened to Blair?
MrJMontrose 2 years ago
In the early 80's, Larry Blair became a beach inspector at Maroubra Beach. Then he moved up the coast, I think to Norah Head. In about 1999, I saw some footage of him surfing a 'legends' contest in Mexico, where he was easily slotting into 8 to 10 foot barrels. I heard he now lives in Bali (but I do not know for sure). But obviously he still surfs. His surfing in 1999 was as good as ever.
BarbarraBay 2 years ago
I remember the first Tracks i ever bought, February 1981. Report on the Pipe Masters. Everyone was against him, even the Aussies. I recall reading Tommy Carroll calling him a 'poof' & saying how he deliberately paddled into Larry as Larry took off. I read in later years the Hawaiians smashed all his boards that year & beat him up. Larry could have been 3 x Pipe Master. He is a legend. People forget what he acheived, winning Pipe x 2 at 18 and 19 yo. Beat Gerry, Rory, etc. Larry quit.
BarbarraBay 2 years ago
One of the classic final shoot outs, with two of the best surfers in the world at the time. Man awesome stuff wherever you found that, thank you, a real blast to see that again. there was still plenty of soul in surfing back then, even in the contests.....it saddens me to see what its become now.
FilmpoetsTV 2 years ago
Larry was classic. We loved it. Plus he was a local. Thank you for the footage.
BarbarraBay 2 years ago
Glad you liked it. Keep looking as I've got other Surfabouts and comps to post, when time permits.
Dragferret 2 years ago
Uncle Larry...
Stinky Blair as he was Called...
OzFire000 2 years ago