FLASHBACK: 1984

The Huntington Bear Pit By Cheyne Horan

Huntington was wild. Really wild. There'd be 55000 people on the beach screaming, you were almost deaf when you went to take off.

The presence of that size crowd on the beach really pushed you. I actually pulled off the first backside 360 in an event at Huntington two years earlier, getting that extra lift from the crowd.

This is one of the best heats I had with Tom, and we had some classics. He got the better of me on this occasion though. I think something that gets forgotten is that Curren really ushered in the 'combination', linking sets of manoeuvres, he took it the next step from what MR had done.

It was the best performance roll I'd ever been on. For six weeks, in every event, I made the final. I was really happy with my boards, this was one of the first star-fin (winged keel) boards Gary Linden made for me and it became a favourite. Only problem was during this event, the big fin was so powerful it kept cracking the glass on the fin box. I distinctly remember between every heat only having time to put that solar curing resin on it and sanding it down.

I had an injured back at the time too and was getting assistance off David Nuuhiwa Sr, he was this famous martial arts guy in one of those almost fight-to-the-death styles, but he was this amazing healer and masseuse. And he'd get me sorted out before each heat. And that's when you'd walk back out through the crowd and everyone would be cheering again.

This is actually the first time I've seen this footage ... You had to be quick and light. Look at the waves we competed in most of the time. They used to have a contest in a wave pool in Pennsylvania where the smaller guys definitely had the advantage. I remember Robbie Page saying they should have surfing as a weight division because he'd basically have to write that event off. We could only dream of getting the chance to compete at places like Mundaka and Teahupoo, but Huntington was definitely an experience.

{For those who came in late: Cheyne Horan is one of the all times greats. An innovator in technique, performance, fitness, design, giant waves, and coaching. cheynehoran.com.au}