Noosa 1968 - unidentified surfers heading out
Photo courtesy Stuart Scott.
Kit Carson at Winkipop, 1969. Photo courtesy Kit Carson.
This site tries to record some of the story of paipo boards and bellyboards, primarily in Australia, but also in New Zealand. Rather than a conventional website, each link below takes you to a pdf document that can be easily printed or saved. Each document is like a chapter in a book.
Noosa 1968 - unidentified surfers heading out Photo courtesy Stuart Scott. |
Kit Carson at Winkipop, 1969. Photo courtesy Kit Carson. |
| Introduction A variety of terms have been used to describe paipo boards. Some of the terms and challenges in documenting this history as well as the decline and renewed interest, are discussed here. |
| Australia pre 1950 Boards, surfers and surfing from each Australian state, prior to the 1950s. |
| New Zealand pre 1950s Boards, surfers and surfing prior to the 1950s |
| Queensland 1950s to the present day. |
| NSW: North coast to the Central Coast 1950s to the present day. |
| Manly to Palm Beach 1950s to the present day. |
| Maroubra to Bronte 1950s to the present day. |
| Cronulla and the south coast 1950s to the present day. |
| Tasmania 1950s to the present day. |
| Victoria 1950s to the present day. |
| South Australia 1950s to the present day. |
| Western Australia 1950s to the present day. |
| New Zealand from the 1950s 1950s to the present day. |
| Final comments, acknowledgements and information sources Some final comments, information sources and acknowledgements. |
 Cortina and paipo ready to travel . Photo courtesy Gary Clyst |
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Additional photos of Australian bellyboards can be found on Geoff Cater's surfresearch site |
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For interviews with people who have had experience with paipo boards, bellyboards or other prone craft, see: The paipo interviews project |
 BOAC poster, designed by Hayes c.1956 S. Anthony and O. Green. British Aviation Posters: Art, Design and Flight |