NEILSEN’S SURF RISE
BORN in Southport hospital in 1951, Paul Neilsen is one of the Gold Coast’s greatest surfing champions in the calibre of Peter Drouyn, Michael Peterson, Peter Townend, “Rabbit” Bartholomew, Joel Parkinson and Mick Fanning.
Paul’s dad Bill, affectionately known as Ganger, bought him his first board, a 9’6’’ solid balsa board in 1963 for 18 pounds.
His first win was the Queensland cadet title in 1965 on a Lawrie Hohensee malibu.
He started as apprentice carpenter for three years after leaving Miami High School and worked with his dad on many Gold Coast houses and high-rises in 1966.
In 1969 he won the state junior title at Snapper.
Together with older brother Rick, they created the iconic Brothers Neilsen surf brand after Paul won the Australian Open men’s title from Rick in 1971 at Bells Beach, Victoria.
Their dad lent them some money to begin building surfboards where Rick shaped, Paul glassed and Ganger and mum Betty did the books plus Betty made some boardshorts.
From those humble beginnings the family business bloomed into a retail empire that became a household name.
Their first sale was a block of wax sold for 25c in the first shop at the Centre Arcade, Surfers Paradise.
The family-managed business included Paul’s wife Karen, Ricky’s wife Lani, older brother Lennie and Kim Lomas and it covered more than 20 retail shops from 1971 until 2008.
Paul dominated the 1972 Hawaiian North Shore big wave winter season, taking out the prestigious Smirnoff Pro at Haleiwa. He also made the finals of the Duke Kahanamoku Classic and the Hang Ten Invitational, both held at Sunset Beach.
He excelled in the big waves of Hawaii with fearless air drop take-offs at Sunset, Haleiwa, and Pipeline that paved the way for future Aussie chargers on the North Shore of Oahu.
His uncanny tube riding ability and carving cutbacks were groomed on the Gold Coast point breaks of Burleigh and Kirra.
Paul retired from the tour in 1978. In 1982, he was appointed the first national coach and would steer Australia to world teams wins the 1980s and 90s.
One of his favourite coaching tips was, “position is possession” and was used to great winning effect by the Australian team.
In 2004 Paul was inducted into the Surfing Australia Hall of Fame for his achievements and contributions to the sport.
Nowadays he enjoys pushing his grandsons on to waves and still manages to catch a morning surf each day at Burleigh, Flatrock, Kirra or Dbah.