Surfing legend’s book venture

The Surf World Gold Coast museum at Currumbin will host some of the legends of professional surfing next month.

THE Surf World Gold Coast museum at Currumbin will host some of the legends of professional surfing at Ian “Kanga” Cairns’ book launch next month.

The launch of the biography Kanga will be on Thursday, April 4, from 6pm during the 2019 Quiksilver Pro and Boost Mobile Pro week.

Cairns, a big-wave champion, was the original ASP president. Kanga is told in two books written by longtime West Australian friend and writer Wayne Murphy.

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What makes this night more special is Cairns will be joined by fellow pro pioneers Peter “PT” Townend and Wayne “Rabbit” Bartholomew.

1976 Ian Cairns at Off the Wall in Hawaii with his legendary Snap Back manoeuver photo by Steve Wilkings

“When we analyse our careers and remember all the people we competed with, many of us like me and Rabbit and PT had competitive tussles in and out of the water,” Cairns said before adding a conciliatory remark.

“In essence though, we need to look back with a sparkle in our eyes and gladly ­accept we are all part of surfing history, that we have many good things and experiences in common.

“We need to recognise this so we can laugh about the hassles we had and be supportive and congratulatory.”

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Cairns feels honoured to have fought hard against super-competitive guys like Mark Richards, Shaun Tomson, Jeff Hakman, Townend, Bartholomew, Michael Ho, Buzzy Kerbox, Reno Abellira and Michael Peterson.

“All of them have truly enriched my life,” he said.

Aust. surf team - Mark Warren , Ian Cairns , & Peter Townend off to Hawaii .1977

“To have stood and be counted as a worthy adversary in the heat of battle with these brave men still fortifies my very being.

“Returning to the Gold Coast and sharing the stage at the surf museum with Rabbit and PT, to share some more stories and launch this book, well, that really stokes me.”

Cairns, 66, was born in Victoria and learnt how to surf at Avalon in Sydney.

He then moved with his family to Perth where his surfing career took off riding the big waves of Margaret River that ultimately gave him a fearless reputation in Hawaii.

Throughout the 1970s ­single-fin era, Cairns was such a dominant figure on the north shore of Oahu that he was regarded as one of the best surfers in the world.

His famous snapback was the money turn, carving hard and fast in the pocket during the 1977 Stubbies Classic at Burleigh Heads.

That event was won by ­Peterson, the enigmatic Kirra superstar.

Cairns was deprived of a world title despite winning seven majors.

Fittingly his final victory was in 1980 in double overhead waves at Haleiwa.

But perhaps his biggest victory was seeing his vision of surfing become a professional reality.