The Return of Nicky Wood!
Just whacked a photo spread up on the site.
Unreal!! What a blast from the past eh. I remember him ripping on those single fins. Here I was kooking around on a flouro pink thruster, barely able to stand up, and he was mixing with the big time pros riding a board most groms would have been embarrassed to be seen on.
Remember him in tha SW edition with (i think - memories a bit faded now), Russell Specht, Tony Moniz, Damien Hardman, MR - can't remember where they were surfing??
He musta been pretty young back then but he held his own in the water for sure.
Great stuff!
I've got some video in here of him on Wide World Sports with Mike Gibson. This was after the Bells win. Also got a classic interview with him and Butto on the beach at Manly before a Coke Classic ('88?). If only I could get it transferred to digital.
If I get a moment I might whack some more magazine shots up on the link above.
Why did he drop off the radar?
Bad knees form too many giant floaters, i remember it was something like that, but that was a long time ago.
Or was it the start early burn out early story.
love to know
He had a huge growth spurt and that, along with those huge floaters, didn't help his knees. Think he went many months without being able to surf at one stage. The burnout factor probably played a part too.
Get this though, I just spoke to the people at Breaka who ran the 'win a wildcard' lucky dip competition. According to them only 100 people entered! Good odds for a competition I reckon.
He gets slotted into the round of 96 (which is one round before the money rounds), but more importantly he gets to surf Burleigh with just 3 other fellas while there's a cyclone out near Tonga.
Yeah a growth spurt and about 20 zillion hash cones.....but he wasn't alone pro surfing still had a personality or two in the 80's/90's.
Nick is the same age as i am and we surfed many heats in the cadet and junior days befor he became the SuperGrom and went pro.
He was unbeatable, had the best team behind him (McCoy, Horan, Ripcurl etc)and was solid he never fell off!
He also was an amzing tube rider, could stuff himself in there and stall in the barrel for maximum tube time.
Bit wierd he is doing a comp though...old now, whats the point?
^^^ pumping burleigh with 3 others out?
Why did Fenech and Nelson fight again, why did Gilchrist sign for Indian league why did Lance Armstrong return....once a competitor I suppose???
Do you still know him Sunny, would he surf daily, what's his current form like?????
Cmon Mr Stunet, stop loafing around and put that footage up here!
"You been takin' breaks all mornin"
Nick is the same age as i am and we surfed many heats in the cadet and junior days befor he became the SuperGrom and went pro.
He was unbeatable, had the best team behind him (McCoy, Horan, Ripcurl etc)and was solid he never fell off!
He also was an amzing tube rider, could stuff himself in there and stall in the barrel for maximum tube time.
Bit wierd he is doing a comp though...old now, whats the point?
By: "sunny"
Direct from the ASP site
"Meanwhile Nicky Wood, the child prodigy who set a surfing record in 1897 by winning the Bells Beach Easter Classic as a 16-year-old – Today almost completed a fairytale comeback to the sport."
Makes Nicky Wood old growth at 129 years old, good old Sunny too!
Simetimes i feel that old^^^^you young obversvant whippy snapper!
How did Woodsy go in the comp?
I though about Nick competeing again, how could he not. Denying his competitve drive so so long would have been like an itch you cannot scratch.
Back for the Breaka Pro with Margo: http://www.swellnet.com.au/news/321-nicky-wood-returns-for-breaka-burlei...