Death and Slabs

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Growing up as a bodyboarder in Durban it was surreal to think that a feature documentary on core bodyboarding history would ever be created. However, thanks to a Kickstarter campaign (die-hard fans chipped in to help fund the project) devoted fimmakers have produced a world first: “Holding On”.

This documentary about six Cronulla bodyboarders known as the “Skid Kids”, looks at their lives in the 1980s and 1990s when they pioneered the heaving slabs of Shark Island when no-one could surf it. Nathan “Nugget” Purcell, Matt Percy, Dave Ballard, Adam “Wingnut” Smith, Mark Fordham and Christian “Rissole” Riguccini were a rebellious, tough group who gave Australian bodyboarders a voice.

The film begins in the early days of the 1970s when bodyboarding first stirred. Surfers dominated the Cronulla stretch, excluding Shark Island of course, which was deemed unrideable. Until the Skid Kids took it on.

The crew wanted none of the beach-grovelling that bodyboarding was in those days. They wanted cold, hard, challenging slabs. They wanted to push the limits, away from the soppy beach-break events run by the Australian Bodyboard Association. With the industry booming, the boys were on cloud nine and nothing could stop them. But Wingnut blew it. He lost the plot. One of their best mates passed away, and all major funding was slashed from bodyboarding, effectively destroying the industry.

It wasn’t all bad though. The infamous Underground Tapes arose, showcaing to the world what bodyboarding really was, and could be. Through their fearless approach to heavy waves like Shark Island, bodyboarders began to earn the respect from fellow wave riders all around the globe. They created the Shark Island Challenge, in my eyes the biggest and best legacy left by the Skid Kids.

Each member of the Skid Kids crew reflects \on the peaks and troughs of the times through forthright interviews. You get insights from unlikely sources such as Luke Egan (ex-pro surfer) and Eric Grothe Jnr (former NRL player). The old school footage of Shark Island and the party scene back in the day is incredible. It is obvious that a lot of work and research has gone into retrieving this archival footage.

Holding On is a must see if you love your bodyboarding. Hell, I recommend it as great viewing for anyone who loves the ocean and sports history.

eThekwini Bodyboarding Association will host a premiere - the first ever feature length documentary about bodyboarding - and we are excited to bring this to South Africa. This is an all ages event and we look forward to seeing the young and old at the screening. The Holding On Premier in Durban is hosted by 8 Morrison Street, and doors open at 6:30pm, Saturday 19 March.

Food and Drink will be on sale at the event. There will be prize draws, give aways and a chance to meet up with some of the legends the made North Beach what it was back in the day.

Tickets are available from Quicket here. Tickets start at R85 online, with limited sales at the door.

Don't want to use a credit card online? Get a "pay at the door ticket" online for free and pay at the door.

Other premieres have been arranged for Cape Town and Eastern Province: dates to be confirmed.