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Photo: Dan Merkel/A-Frame
Four-time World Champ Mark Richards put on a typical strong performance, placing second behind Gold Coast legend Michael Peterson. Photo: Dan Merkel/A-Frame

The second year of surfing's world pro tour got off to a spectacular start in early 1977 on Australia's Gold Coast. A new event, the Stubbies Classic, was offering a then-giant prize purse of $12,300. The natural amphitheater of Burleigh Heads would provide a thoroughly professional setup for the judging tower, and for the crowd of three to five thousand fans who'd pay "gate money" for a prime spectator spot along the point -- and hear colorful PA commentary in the booming baritone voice of British-born former pro wrestler and actor (and Makaha-based surfer) Lord Tally Ho Blears.

But there was more...lots more. The top 32 surfers who'd be surfing in the main event were hosted at a catered reception by the Gold Coast mayor, and a subsequent party at the exclusive Southport Yacht Club -- made to feel like genuine professional athletes and celebrities. After a full-blown banquet with open bar at a local hotel on the night of March 12, contest director Peter Drouyn explained his crazily innovative vision
The revolutionary contest was the brainchild of Australian Peter Drouyn (second from left), who was an accomplished surfer himself, having won both state and national titles as well as the 1970 Makaha Invitational. Photo: Dan Merkel/A-Frame

for re-making pro surfing as a compelling spectator sport. There'd be no confusing four- or six-man heats in this event: Contestants would go man-on-man in a knockout tournament where the winner progressed and the loser went to the pub to cry into his beer. But that wasn't all. There'd be no interference penalty or priority system. Quite the opposite: surfers could earn extra points for what Drouyn dubbed "effective cheating." Dropping in was allowed; physically checking your opponent quite alright. Surfing as contact sport? Under Drouyn's rules, that would be just fine; in fact, it was encouraged. Surfers in the Stubbies, the always theatrical showman Drouyn insisted, would be clashing like Roman gladiators in the arena; fighting it out mano-a-mano, until the last man standing.

Coming from anyone else, this might have all been dismissed as madness. But Drouyn had some cred among his peers. He'd been a state and national champion; he'd won
Shaun Tomson's expert tube-riding skills allowed him to advance to the semis where he lost out in a pitched battle to MR. Sequence: Dan Merkel/A-Frame
The man-on-man format -- so common in contests today -- was seen in a pro event for the first time at the Stubbies Classic. Photo: Dan Merkel/A-Frame

the Makaha International in 1970 and placed fourth in the Smirnoff, second in the Duke Kahanamoku Invitational and third in the World Championships that same year. Hell, he was a successful pro surfer himself and would finish ranked sixth in the world at the end of the 1977 world tour. As audacious as he was, however, Drouyn did not surf in his own event. As for his new format and rules, the pros took the attitude "let's try it; see how it goes."

And, fortunately, chaos did not reign. The waves took care of that. If the surfers felt blessed by the way they were being treated by the promoters at the Stubbies, they could not have been better served by Mother Nature. During the week of March 12 - 20, 1977, the weather was unbelievable -- sunny skies, offshore winds and so hot and humid that even the Hawaiians began to complain. And the waves? Burleigh Heads enjoyed the best and most consistent surf of the year -- four to six feet, pumping, down-the-line racetrack, bottom-dredging barrels.
Clockwise from top left: Head judges Randy Rarick and Jack Shipley; Mark Warren speeds down the line; Rabbit, Terry Fitzgerald and Shaun Tomson; Barry Kanaiaupuni gets barreled. Photos: Dan Merkel and (upper right) John Witzig
Cheyne Horan made his professional debut at this event and, with moves like this, served notice that he would be a force to be reckoned with for years to come. Photo: Dan Merkel/A-Frame

The sand buildup along Burleigh's boulder point was just about perfect -- certainly better than it's ever been since the man-made creation of the "Superbank" just a few miles to the south.

Surfing as contact sport? Irrelevant, given the surf conditions. Surfing as a man-on-man knockout tournament? Incredible. Little wonder that two-man heats became the standard for most pro surfing contests ever after. Effective cheating, by contrast, never did catch on.

There were too many memorable clashes to recap here in noting the '77 Stubbies as a watershed event in pro surfing history. But few who were there will forget Terry Fitzgerald's deep takeoffs in The Cove, cementing his moniker as the "Sultan of Speed." Or Michael Peterson and Wayne "Rabbit" Bartholomew engaged in their rip, tear and lacerate showdown in the semis. Or how Mark Richards bested Shaun Tomson in their one-on-one tube-fest.
The waves were head-high, glassy and hollow throughout the entire contest. Paul Neilsen. Photo: Dan Merkel/A-Frame
Burleigh Heads provided an ideal competitive arena for both surfers and spectators. Photo: John Witzig

In the end, though, it was MR vs. MP in the finals and Peterson took it away for the first place prize of five grand.

The always eccentric Michael Peterson had been a dominant force in the early days of pro surfing in Australia. He had two national titles, three Bells trophies and had won the inaugural Coke Classic in Sydney, among several other outstanding results. Throughout the early to mid-70s, many observers thought him to be the best surfer in the world. The 1977 Stubbies Classic was MP's last big win in surfing competition and the start of his sad, slow slide into schizophrenia.

The equally eccentric Peter Drouyn will have his place in surfing history not only for pioneering the man-on-man contest format, but also for being surfing's first transgender public persona.

The former Mr. Drouyn now lives as a woman, Ms. Westerly Windina.
Lord "Tallyho" Blears declares Michael Peterson (right) the winner as Mark Richards looks on. Photo: Dan Merkel/A-Frame

THIS DAY IN SURFING: MARCH 17, 1977

Published: March 18, 2011
Visits: 4,160
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bert kilpatrick 03/21/2011 04:38 AM

i was there for that. and i have about 50 35mil slides of the 1978 stubbies at burleigh heads. rabbit- mp- mr and more. it was my first ever attempt at surf photos on what was then an ok camera. cost about $400. photos are ok considering how old they are. you can view them on facebook (bert kilpatrick) robbie'ss pic's:

carlos anaya 03/19/2011 10:27 PM * PREMIUM MEMBER - Real Name

yeah I thought paying customers wouldn't have to deal with the delaying time waste of commercials!

Chaz Bowser 03/19/2011 11:21 AM * PREMIUM MEMBER - Real Name

This was back in the day prior to clothing companies dominating surfing like they are today. Surfing was pure back then. Natural. It will be a great day when the masses begin to realize what has ruined surfing as a lifestyle. Do more coverage from the golden era please!

Whamo 03/19/2011 09:14 AM

He left out the story about the Hawaiian guy punching out the Bronzed Aussie.

Daniel Reilly 03/18/2011 02:47 PM * PREMIUM MEMBER - Real Name

More photos of MP, Cheyne and Rabbit please.

enormo 03/18/2011 01:07 PM

I'm with Chris Field... advertisements for paying members is just plain wrong and a pain in my ass.

chris field 03/18/2011 11:06 AM * PREMIUM MEMBER - Real Name

love the photos, please take your advertizements off for people paying its anoying....

Tyler 03/18/2011 05:57 AM

Hard to believe there was a pure start to today's money machine.... come on NY lots of T's to buy.

Anonymous 03/18/2011 05:20 AM

not even a shot of MP surfing???

NickN 03/18/2011 03:29 AM

Thanks. Awesome photos, especially Paul Neilsen (similar style to MP), BK and Cheyne. The more photos, the more enjoyable, especially of MP. Thanks Merkel

Baron O'Callaghan 03/17/2011 11:02 PM

Going to SBCC's MDT program,just got certified before christmass.My pops would be so stoked for me. He always wanted me to travel no matter what the situation,R.I.P. DAD

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THIS DAY IN SURFING: MARCH 17, 1977

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