Back to the future of Malibu, longboard surf riding glory days

More than 40 top surfers from NSW gathered at Bellambi for the Stomp state titles last weekend, featuring the old Malibu, Greenough-era and log single fin boards. 

Stomp? It’s an acronym for Southern Traditional Old Mal Pilots, a group launched by the Layback Longboarders based at Bellambi and DV8 Malibu Riders at Shellharbour. 

The state titles are now a major attraction on a growing Australian calendar of longboard riding, which is one-part nostalgia, one-part competition and at least one-part celebration on the beach. Jarrett Napper, a Laybacks committee member who took part in the annual Stomp titles, reckons the ingrained culture of longboard riding is attracting younger surfers to join. 

“Even on the entry form, it states ‘gentleman’s rules’,” he said.  “If you are going to bring an attitude, don’t come.

“That’s what it’s all about, you wait your turn, you respect the other competitors and enjoy getting out there on the long board,” he said. 

“The log categories have helped bring new people to come out and compete, a big part of longboard riding is passed down from the 60s generation through to the kids now.”

While it’s gathered a cult following from Illawarra and South Coast surfers, it’s also attracting others from Sydney and Newcastle.

And while the waves may have been smaller than they’d like last weekend, the Stomp titles, split into over and under 40 division and board styles, still had record numbers. 

Barney Dunn claimed the D-Fin category, while Nick Farago (open) and Glenn Moore (over 40) ruled the old mal category. 

Sydney Matt Chojnacki (open) and Scott Downing (over 40) claimed the log longboard division. 

The longboard season continues with the Layback annual pointscore launching on February 4, club championships held in April and Winter Classic in July. 

The Australian Longboard Open starts on February 28 at Kingscliff on the far northern NSW coast.