Call it some kind of symmetry. Bookends to our sport. In 1956 a team of US lifesavers, including Greg Noll, came to Australia and introduced the malibu surfboard. The visit has been compared to the Beatles visiting soviet Russia, such was the cultural shock. Australian society was mired in 50s conservatism, beach culture meant the rigid conforms of the surf club, and waves were ridden on 16 foot toothpicks.

The Americans had slicked back hair, team uniforms, and most importantly, short malibu surfboards the like Australians had never seen. So it was no surprise the Americans generated interest and curiosity wherever they went. And one of those places was Cronulla, where the visitors put on a display of modern surfing at Cronulla Point.

Greg Noll, far left, at Cronulla SLSC in 1956 (Photo John Salmon)

Now, sixty years later, Greg Noll is coming back to Australia. Back to Cronulla, in fact. To where modern surfing began in Australia. And to round it out even further, Noll landed in Sydney yesterday and was driven straight to Cronulla Point where a six-to-eight foot south swell was roaring across Second Reef into a clean westerly offshore.

For the next few days Da Bull will acclimatise to the weather, shake the jet lag, and ready himself for a weekend when he once again plays famed visitor at Cronulla.

Festivities begin on Saturday with a plaque being erected at Cronulla Point to commemorate the occasion, then there'll be a toothpick surfboard exhibition. All the while a photographic and surfboard display will run in Cronulla Surf Club with old boards from every era on show.

On Sunday the photographic and surfboard display will continue while there'll be a meet and greet at midday followed by a Q&A at 1pm. It's free and everyone is welcome. I'll be there on stage with Noll, asking him questions about his first visit to Australia and all that's happened in the intervening sixty years. If you've seen Riding Giants you'll know the fella ain't shy of an opinion.

It's sure to be an entertaining weekend so come along and celebrate.

Saturday:
9am to 4pm – Photographic and Surfboard Display
10am to 11am – Historic sign at Cronulla Point
12 noon – Toothpick surfboard display

Sunday:
9am to 4pm – Photographic and Surfboard Display
12 noon – Meet and greet with Greg Noll
1pm – Q&A with Stu Nettle
2pm - Surfrider Cronulla launch

(Homepage photo of Greg Noll by John Veage)