SURFING SERVING
ICON’S NOVEL IDEA
ONE of the South Coast’s favourite surfing sons will be on the Gold Coast next Wednesday to launch his surfing memoirs.
Titled Richo: The Terry Richardson Story, the biography, to launch at Surfworld at Currumbin, covers the early years of professional surfing and his many tales of surfing, shaping and surviving as a professional surfer.
Raised in Wollongong, Richardson was an inspiration for many South Coast surfers – notably Rob Page, whom he mentored and became a Pipeline Masters Champion.
Richo’s ’70s and ’80s era was well documented in magazines such as Surfing World, where he made a name for himself as arguably the best goofy foot at Australia’s version of Hawaii’s Banzai Pipeline, known as Aussie Pipe.
Now an Aboriginal Reserve, the Summer-cloud surf break known as Shelly’s breaks on a shallow sea urchin reef and is where Richardson developed his unique tube-riding skills.
His fast explosive style was the goofy version of Michael Peterson.
By the end of the ’70s Richardson had made his way onto the World Tour. He was also one of the first Australian goofy foots to excel in the other Hawaiian version of Pipeline, at Padang Padang, Bali.
In 1980 he had an epic final against well-known professional Terry Fitzgerald at Outside Corner, Uluwatu.
Richardson, who was running hot, was favoured to win but Fitzy beat his younger opponent.
The following year Richo won his first international event at Uluwatu Bali. That year he surfed one of the biggest waves ever at Bells Beach, when Simon Anderson had introduced the thruster three-finned board.
Richardson continued to be a threat on the ASP World Tour and, while not winning a world title, gained much respect for his surfing performances in Hawaii, and Bali.
Richo is one of those inspiring surf warriors who has cut an impressive swath over three generations of professional surfing.
Recently he competed in the World Masters at Azores, Portugal, taking the place of a fellow competitor Wayne Rabbit Bartholomew.
As one of the true originals of pro surfing, Richo’s story covers the generations with contributions from an endless list of great surfers who inspired him.
The launch will feature a range of definitive surfboards, “lost” movie footage and classic photos, Q&A and the opportunity to get a personally signed copy of Richo’s book. Doors open at 6pm.