1995 - present

The Bondi Longboard Club (BLC) began in 1995, as longboards started to make a resurgence in the surf line-ups at Bondi Beach. This rise in longboarding brought new and old surfers together, including former members of the South Bondi Surfboard Riders Club, creating a vibrant community of like-minded enthusiasts. Sensing a need to formalise this camaraderie, Garry Parkinson, Tony O’Brien, and David Byron, along with 18 other surfers, gathered at the North Bondi RSL to establish the club. They launched the first contest on Sunday, 14 March 1995, marking the beginning of what would become a thriving surf community.

In the early days, the club featured three divisions based on board length: nine-foot, eight-foot, and seven-foot boards. The seven-foot division acted as a bridge for surfers transitioning to longboards, but it was phased out by 1999 as the club’s focus shifted to the longer boards. Over time, the nine-foot and eight-foot divisions were merged, and the competition format evolved from straight elimination heats to a point-scoring system. Monthly contests became a regular feature, held on the second Sunday of each month, followed by a BBQ lunch, fostering a sense of community both in and out of the water.

The club grew steadily, welcoming members from all over New South Wales, far beyond the confines of Bondi. It wasn’t just about the competition—it was about bringing people together. The BLC also played a key role in organising larger events, such as the "Endless Reunion," which attracted surfers from the 1950s to the 1970s from around the world. These events helped boost membership and brought in fresh energy.

In March 2000, the BLC hosted the inaugural Bondi Longboard Classic, attracting nearly 90 competitors and cementing its place in Sydney’s surf culture. Each October from 2003 to 2012 the Club held a memorial comp for one of their junior members, Chloe Byron, who was a victim of the Bali bombing. Proceeds were donated to the Homicide Victims Group on behalf of her parents, Tia and David.

Stalwart members include Paul Armstrong, John Dicks, Jo-anne East, Alex Kiss, Henry Brycki, Dean Nicholson, Rodger Jamieson, John Connolly, and the Norman family, with Claire and Rob Norman being active members since their childhood. The club also receives enthusiastic backing from Jaime Robles, Camilo Reyes, Joel Richard and Christophe Marandat.

Club patrons have included Bondi surfing pioneers such as Jack ‘Bluey’ Mayes, Ross Kelly and Barry ‘Magoo’ McGuigan.

Today, with around 100 members, the BLC continues to celebrate the longboarding tradition while embracing new generations of surfers. In 2024, the Club can be described as multicultural hub, with members from all ages and background reflecting changing demographics of the Eastern Suburbs.

Images courtesy Joanne East and Laurie Miller.