Legends of Surf 72 Exhibition – the 50th anniversary of the legendary 1972 Australian Team.

Legends of Surf 72 exhibition takes you on a wave of nostalgia following a phenomenal year of surfing events in 1972. Join the legendary Australian teams’ journey from the Nationals to the raucous World Surfing Championships in California, and the end of the year Hawaiian season on the North Shore of Oahu. The unique Exhibition displayed on the Gold Coast during a multitude of surf festive events features iconic photos, front page cover posters, archival magazine stories, period surfboards and timeless vision depicting a huge breakthrough year in surfing that shaped many careers. Fourteen (14) members from the twenty-one (21) squad representing Australia at the 1972 San Diego World Surfing Championships have been inducted into the Surfing Australia Hall of Fame, an unparalleled statistic unrivalled in Australia’s colourful surfing history.

Legends of Surf 72 exhibition has been produced by Andrew McKinnon, curator Karen Neilsen, and co-ordinated by Hall of Fame inductee and 1972 Australian Team representative Rod Brooks. The exhibition thanks photographers Steve Wilkings, Jeff Divine, Dick Hoole, Frank Pithers, PT memorabilia scrapbook, Drew Kampion, Matt Warsaw, Tracks magazine, Ray Henderson, Albe Falzon & Justin Misch MOTE, Ira Opper, Gail Couper, Debbie Beacham, Sharron Weber, Sandy Ordille, and Mary Ann Hayes.

An S-Lab surfboard modelled on the 1972 World Surfing Championship winning twin-fin fish design will be auctioned off on Friday 29th April in the Exhibition foyer of Rydges Hotel, Gold Coast Airport, to donate funds for Cancer Council Queensland. By visiting the Exhibition, you can also be in the free draw to win a S-Lab Experience creating your own magic surfboard of choice with professional supervision – a prize worth $1,500.00.

Rydges Hotel Gold Coast Airport Friday 29th April – Thursday 5th May.

QT Hotel, Surfers Paradise in Friday 6th – Sunday 8th May.

10am – 5pm. Free admittance.

Photo credits:

Photo by Jeff Divine – October 1972 World Surfing Championships at Oceanside, San Diego, California opening day of competition with Hawaiian Legend Reno Abellira looking back.

Photo by Steve Wilkings. 1972 Team members Paul Neilsen takes the drop at Sunset Beach with PT looking on, both finalist in the 1972 Duke Kahanamoku Hawaiian Invitational Classic.