The Hawaiian legend, Duke Kahanamoku, the Great Human Fish visited Australia in 1914-1915. An injured shoulder had prevented him from competitive swimming and he accepted an invitation for a visit to the beaches of Sydney demonstrating his swimming and surfing skills. In those days a surfboard ride was called a surf shoot. The Duke was given a piece of sugar pine 9ft long, 2ft wide and 3" thick by Hudsons Timber when he arrived in Australia shaped roughly to his directions and to which he finished off.
In Manly baths in 1915 he did a demonstration swim, but he is famous for his surfshooter displays at Freshwater Beach in Octoer 1914. He showed impressively strong swimming skills to paddle out and to catch the waves. His acrobatics on the board on the long ride amazed the crowd. He was quite a sensation and currently credited in bringing surfing to Australia, although many Australian surf historians debate this.
There's a statue of the Duke at the headland of Freshwater Beach, where I take you on the tour - come and see it with me!
In Manly baths in 1915 he did a demonstration swim, but he is famous for his surfshooter displays at Freshwater Beach in Octoer 1914. He showed impressively strong swimming skills to paddle out and to catch the waves. His acrobatics on the board on the long ride amazed the crowd. He was quite a sensation and currently credited in bringing surfing to Australia, although many Australian surf historians debate this.
There's a statue of the Duke at the headland of Freshwater Beach, where I take you on the tour - come and see it with me!