No matter how you might feel about bodyboarding – whether it’s disdain for us fin-footed boogie brethren or a reverence for the pioneers that charged many of the world’s slabbiest slabs, long before our stand-up counterparts – bodyboarding is here to stay. And those that have devoted their lives to the sport are certainly worthy of some level of respect.
Some of you might be aware of the name Cameron Steele. Cameron is a regular fixture on your flatscreen as a commentator for FMX events, X Games and other assorted dirt sports, as well as an accomplished Trophy Truck racer himself. Among other things he’s a former professional bodyboarder. Cameron had the wild idea of assembling some of the top bodyboarders of yesteryear at San Clemente’s T Street not too long ago. What followed was probably beyond his wildest expectations. A groundswell of support, generating chatter through bodyboarding circles of the interwebs that came to a head on one fine Sunday.
Nearly 100 bodyboarders, mostly north of 40 years old, and many greying, balding or sporting dadbods rocked the beach. They came with kids, boards and swimfins in tow to reminisce, eat, drink and of course paddle out into the 2-4 foot wedgers and relive their youth.
Jay Reale dropknee. Photo: Tony Prince
Legendary Hawaiian bodyboarders like El Rollo inventor Pat Caldwell, dropknee pioneer Keith Sasaki and first-generation California pro riders like Tony Prince, Joe Evans, Scott Evans and Roger Waller were there. Some of the top women riders of the day like Gina Monetti, Tina Merchant, Jena Roghair, and Vicki Reale filled in the gaps, but undoubtedly the highlight of the event was the presence of the inventor of “The Boogie,” Tom Morey and his wife Marchia.
Photo: Tony Prince.
Legend Keith Sasaki pays respects to Tom Morey
Tom held court on the beach, sitting down with the throngs to recount the early days of inventing the board and his efforts to market the boards through a small ad in Surfer Magazine that blew up into its own sport. Tom’s philosophies on wave riding and life in general were profound and struck a chord with everyone. “Apply the things you learn from riding waves to your lives. Catch the wave, get in the sweet spot, and then get out. Like anything in life, don’t ride the wave too long. Don’t devote too much of your energy to anything except your spouse and kids”, and other morsels of advice peppered his dialogue.
The day was a magical celebration of not specifically the bodyboard itself…more a celebration of friends, memories and the inescapable feeling that, despite our differences as people, we all shared a common thread throughout our lives. The bodyboard was simply the needle that guided that thread through the fabric of our lives.
A group shot with Tom Morey in the center. Photo: Sean Loh
