Whenever the words ‘Boardriders Club’ are spoken there are a number of images that flash to mind. Any of these images have the ability to separate a club of surfers from any other type of sporting club out there and the reason for this is that the members of a board riders club are so much tighter as a group than other social clubs. Not only do members surf together in contests and get involved in the running of club events (both surfing and social), they also spend many of their days hanging with the same guys/girls socially in and out of the water. The title ‘Boardriders’ is just another name given for an extended group of mates that are doing what they do…surfing.
Within the group is an unspoken hierarchy of power and respect, which is evident when you’re sitting in the line-up trying to get waves. The guys frequently snagging the sets are usually the older surfers who have put in the time and know how to dominate over the local crowds, or the younger up-and-coming groms (generally sporting a typical ‘check me out I rip’ attitude) who are starting to gain respect from their peers and club members each time they get in the water. Basically, surfing complies with the ‘survival of the fittest’ theory, which could be better describes as the ‘survival of the fittest, most skilled, most popular, and oceanally intelligent’. Anyone else left in the line-up is left fighting for the non-set waves yet little by little, they are able to gain respect by simply being in the water as often as possible, getting to know the local surfing community, and getting involved.
Out of the water it is your typical social scene. The younger generation are all about surfing and the older guys are starting to make their mark on the world. The one thing that stays constant though, is that the club and all of its members are extremely tight. All the friendships, the stories, the epic days of surfing, the contests, and the mixture of creative personalities (surfing is of course a creative art-form in its own right) blend together to construct a subculture within the wider surfing community. Each club has its own personality; unique and different from the other board rider clubs.
For the Cottesloe Boardriders, the club has seemed to sprout personality and opportunity from every angle. After the tragic passing of one of the clubs most refreshing personalities last year, there seems to have been a greater will within the club to bond together and to make things happen. Members have joined together to build and improve such a unique club in terms of club and event organization, social networking and sponsorship, which has attracted an increasingly large amount of members (competitive and social), including an army of grommets into the Cottesloe family.
At the ‘Queen of the Cove’ weekend in 2005 it was good to see the parents supporting their kids by watching heats, bringing down healthy snacks, and making sure that the grommet abuse was kept in check. One young lad was understandably dunked in the ocean after attempting to throw a raw sausage at the club president. But that’s what it’s all about. Respect. No doubt this particular youth will learn a few lessons along the way and will be at the top of the local ranks within a few years.
When thinking about being in the Boardriders, the younger years were all about surfing and nothing else really mattered. If there was any sign of a swell, the old pushy would get a workout twice a day and the flouro Westsuits wettie would be worn until the zipper broke off. The later years on the other hand seem to be about everything else as well. Work, study, travels, music, surfing, parties and life - all in the context of being a part of the surfing world, are what it seems to be about.
The Cottesloe Boardriders are a pretty lucky bunch of characters, creating a colourful setting for a perpetual improvement and contribution to our community. We are a positive presence and a recognized force consisting of a large group of respected individuals and it’s safe to say that the stigma of the ‘surf bum’ cliché could definitely not be used to tag any one of the clubs members, which is a great compliment for such a large amount of surfers and says something for the direction of the sport in general.
The Cottesloe Boardriders are set for some exciting times ahead judging by the past couple of seasons. Whether it is a surf contest or a football game, a house party or a club meeting, history is in the making and our members will no doubt continue to make the most of it all.