Bondi boardriders says bye to Bumper
It still amazes me how locals are able to traipse down to Bondi Beach every month for the boardriders’ contests.
Why, despite the raging hangovers that typify a Sunday morning, despite rainy weather and less than agreeable surf conditions, do we still have the dogged ability – indeed the need – to gather for our little surf competition?
The answer is community, which has a lot of meaning for Bondi locals. Living in a suburb where many old-timers have been lost to rising rent prices and the skyrocketing cost of living, the locals we still have left are loved like our own brothers.
That’s why when long-time and much respected local Steve “Bumper” Fuller passed away unexpectedly, all Bondi locals from the northern point of Ramsgate Avenue to the Southern tip of Lamrock congregated on May 17 on Boardriders’ Hill to pay their respects.
Steve, the wild surfing goofy-footer, grew up in Bondi and forged many strong friendships with his Scum Valley brethren over the years. He gained his friends partly through his fabulous surfing ability but mostly because he was such a great bloke and loved a beer and a good night out with the boys.
In a chat with Paul Cram, who grew up with Bumper and now runs R18+, a surfboard repair and shape shop on Bondi Road, Crammy recalled: “He was a wild one, loved a good party”.
Lived fast and died young, Steve had a heart attack at only 47 which was a tragedy to both his family and the Bondi community.
Overshadowing the competition for the day was the paddle-out boardriders put on for Steve. About 100 of Steve’s friends paddled out to the back of the south Bondi break, formed a circle and held hands in remembrance. A wreath was also sent out. Then, in a display of community spirit, we all paddled onto a big party wave and rode it in together.
The waves weren’t small either. The winners caught thick and punchy lefts and rights at the close of the day’s contest, while freezing onshore winds battered the hill and the judges who were trying to hold on to their scoring sheets and hopefully avoid frostbite.
Youngster and little ripper Ben Key beat all the cadets (including his older brother who won last year). Jack Campbell snapped and twisted his way to juniors’ victory and Luke Mussett took down favourites Ian Wallace and Jono Arnold to take out the opens.
The boardrider gears are in motion for the winter swell, and with the next comp being AA rated, the quality of Bondi Boardrider surfing can only improve.
– BY TOM EDWARDS
