WHERE’S WALLY? BY Dick Hoole
Date: March, 1980
Location: Burleigh Heads

Long before the Quiksilver Pro or the World Surf League, there was the Stubbies Classic at Burleigh Heads. Long-celebrated as the birth of professional surfing, the original Stubbies was masterminded by eccentric Gold Coast surfing genius Peter Drouyn and introduced man-on-man surfing to the world, the format still used on the world tour to this day. By 1980, the Stubbies had become one of the most anticipated stop on the pro surfing calendar.

This timeless image evocatively captures the crowd crush and community enthusiasm for the event. The best surfers in the world flocked to Burleigh Heads at a time when surfing developments internationally
usually only reached our shores via surfing magazines that were months out of date.
At the Stubbies you could witness advances in performance, design and competitive bastardry up close. From a star-studded field, local hero Peter Harris ultimately won the day, proving that local knowledge could trump star power and reputation. If you’ve lived on the Gold Coast for any significant length of time you probably know someone in this photo. And, fair to say, the ubiquitous Stubbies sun visors were a big hit.

Flotsam Focal Point Burleigh is supported by The Arts Development Fund.

The Arts Development Fund is a City of Gold Coast Council fund that supports the Gold Coast’s creative community by fostering professional pathways and skills development, contributing to our city’s vibrant lifestyle.