I went
to swimming lessons when I was 4. Started riding air mats w
hen I was 5. Was trained by my Father - Darryl, who recentl
y traded stand up surfing to prone surfing. I would hang on
to his back whilst he bodysurfed or would ride the air mat
. He got me on the air mat. I was filled with terror pretty
much the whole time. I still remember to this day, he taki
ng me out in larger surf, like overhead for adults. After s
eeing the body board introduced to the local toy + sports s
tore, he soon decided to get one - for himself. I was to co
ntinue riding the air mat. When I was about 6 or 7, I was g
iven my first set of swim fins. They were continental type.
Blue open toes and long. He bought a Scott BZ, and then re
alized it was not quite big enough for him to float on, so
he passed it to me. I remember the first wave I caught by m
yself. It was a 2-3ft left at midway Elouera, just up from
our home. I was stoked so much, it was a clean face and I j
ust held the rail and trimmed across. I was stoked, my eyes
were popping out. Dad went on to buy the Mach 10 so it wou
ld float him. I later got that board. The following Christm
as he bought another and passed me his old one. Dad saw us
catching the BB bug, so when the Manta body board was intro
duced in 85 or 86, he bought one of those. Due to this boar
d feeling like it was better made, he bought me one also. L
ike his a 44 inch manta magnum. Later in 86 the Cronulla BB
club started and Dad signed me up. I could only turn, pump
the wave for speed and do hand drag spinners. Prior to the
opening of the BB club, we hardly knew of anyone else body
boarding. A magazine from the USA had only a few copies released to Cr
onulla newsagency. All that we knew of the body board world
was a local guy Doug Robson being a national champion
and Ross Hawke, being an International champion.
BB exp
loded and the club went from strength to strength.  Fo
r the following 16 years, I judged several hours of each co
mp and competed as much as I could. I was even in 3 clubs a
t the same time. I progressed from B to AA then to AAA and
stayed there for over ten years. I competed in Regional, St
ate, National and International Pro am comps, and then trav
elled to Japan where I lived for a
nd competed on their tour. I returned home and noticed a hu
ge jump in local skill, some of the kids I use to surf with
had grown a lot and they made me feel ashamed of myself be
cause they were so good. I could not compete with the top l
evel anymore and dropped back to AA grade where that was st
ill challenging for me, but I could still do ok from time t
o time. I stayed with the club up until last year 2004 and
had completed a 19 year financial membership and support. < >BRI have since only competed once in the State titles in 2
004 and enjoyed that even though I did not go well. My styl
e of riding has changed, from concentrating on speed and tr
ick riding, to more powerful lines and less tricks and now
to do most of the time. My back and shoulders have worn a l
ot and at the end of 2005 I have not surfed for 6 months as
I am abstaining from surfing until my body gets better. I
want to be the world’s oldest body boarder.

www.mattmenz
ies.piczo.com
Please sign my guest book.

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