Newcastle bodyboard films to hit big screens

Filmed by local bodyboarders John Welsh and Shane McGregor, and presented by Totem Brand Bodyboards, the trailer-style clips will screen at Tower Cinemas in King Street tonight, before the premiere of documentary Home Brew, which offers an edgy glimpse into the burgeoning ocean sport. 

Veteran bodyboarder Dan Agelavu – the founder of Totem, which he says is the first Newcastle company to produce bodyboards, custom-made by renowned Central Coast shaper Todd Quigley – credits Newcastle for leading the charge to promote the sport from the mid-1980s.  

‘‘Newcastle had one of the first bodyboarders’ clubs in Australia, at Merewether, and in its first five years that club produced four or five Australian champions,’’ he said.

Mr Agelavu said the short films promoted Newcastle as a premier location to bodyboard.

‘‘It’s about time people here in the scene realise that they don’t have to dream of going some place exotic – look at this town and get a sense of your identity because Newcastle rates on a national and international level.’’

The films feature local talents including Dallas Singer, Garth McGregor, Paul Blaz, Simon Bell, Toby Read and Paul Bayliss.

Mr Agelavu recently teamed up with Mr Quigley to produce bodyboards that can cost as much as $350 a pop and sell exclusively online. 

‘‘Todd’s factory is set up to produce high-quality bodyboards that can compete with companies who source their manufacturing overseas,’’ he said, adding that although sales were online he talked in detail with clients to meet their needs and and educated them about how board design could affect their performance. 

‘‘Most orders are local so I can generally make it to an appointment with customers; feedback from the younger guys has been fantastic,’’ he said.