The Bronzed Aussies
When the Bronzed Aussies were formed in 1976, I had moved inland from the Central Coast of California, so I took a bit of a leave from surfing, in favor of skiing. It wasn’t until five or so years ago that I was introduced to Peter “PT” Townend, who helped me understand what Bronzed Aussies was all about. Before then, I thought it was just another surfboard brand. But the Bronzed Aussies was more than that, and did so much to bring surfing (and in particular, professional surfing) into mainstream media. Sometimes maligned for their approach, they endeavored to promote surfers as true pro athletes, and to help make surfing a viable international sport.
In the spring of 1976, a sports writer named Mike Hurst pitched the idea of establishing a professional surf team to four of Australia’s top pro surfers: PT, Ian Cairns, Mark Richards and Mark Warren. Richards turned down the invitation, so the original Bronzed Aussies was a team of just three. Cheyne Horan joined the team for a year beginning in 1977, at about the time Warren had decided to leave.
The theory behind the Bronzed Aussies was that a team of surfers would better catch the eye of larger corporate sponsors than any individual. Also, It would allow team members to benefit financially from the successes of each other. As PT put it, “The fluctuating fortunes of winning or losing didn’t rest on one guy’s shoulders. If Mark Warren won, all Bronzed Aussies benefitted. If I won, same thing.” The timing was good in that competitive surfing was beginning to emerge as a legitimate professional sport on the international stage.
1976 was a notable year for pro surfing and for Pete Townend. First, the International Professional Surfers (IPS) was founded by Fred Hemmings and Randy Rarick. It’s purpose was to provide oversight for the newly-established world professional surfing tour, and was the precursor to what is now the World Surfing League (WSL). In that inaugural year, it was Townend who was crowned the first-ever surfing champion of the world. Since then, PT has been a true advocate of surfing, involved in many facets of the industry. In the late ‘70s, he shaped surfboards for Gordon & Smith in Australia and appeared as a stunt double in the 1978 movie Big Wednesday. He was also an associate publisher for Surfing magazine, before moving on to work as the global brand manager for Rusty surfwear. Today, Townend serves as the Executive Director of the Huntington Beach International Surf Museum, which seeks “to celebrate and preserve the rich history, culture and art of surfing.” PT is a true ambassador of our sport.
Ian Cairns was a big wave specialist for the Bronzed Aussies. Like PT, he worked at Gordon & Smith in Australia in the late ‘70s, but more as a test pilot than a shaper. Cairns finished second behind PT in the 1976 IPS world championship, but won the World Cup the following year. A dedicated promoter of professional surfing, he organized a variety of associations and contests, including the first OP Pro (1982), and the U.S. Open of Surfing (1994). Both contests have roots dating back to 1959.
The third of the original Bronzed Aussies, Mark Warren, was rated #4 in the world in 1976. Perhaps a more obscure surfer at the time, he – like Cairns – excelled in bigger surf and had an impact on the surf industry in a number of ways. He once had his own brand of surf wax, wrote a regular column about surfing for a Sydney-based newspaper, and provided television commentary for world tour surf events.
By the end of 1980, the team folded. But the influence the Bronzed Aussies has had on raising the profile of professional surfing is huge. At one time or another, there were a total of six Bronzed Aussies: Peter Townend, Ian Cairns, Mark Warren, Cheyne Horan, and a couple of lesser-known Australians, contest surfer/shaper Jim Banks and two-time Australian junior champion Steve Jones. Together, they represented a four-year experiment in professionalizing, branding and marketing the sport of surfing. In addition to promoting a variety of products worldwide, they did the same for a line of surfboards and apparel items bearing the Bronzed Aussies name.
“I’m proud of my contributions to pro surfing,” PT said. “Bronzed Aussies had a huge impact on raising mainstream recognition of surfers as legitimate sportsmen.”
Last Wave would like to thank Peter Townend for the opportunity to offer Bronzed Aussies t-shirts to our customers. We appreciate it, PT!
Until next time,
Ted
