Please take a moment to step through time and visit a taste of Australian boog history with PMQ rider Mr Jon Capilli:
Doc: Hey Jon,
You’ve been on the boog for a while now, starting in 1981. How did you find the scene back then?
JC: There were only photos of Daniel Kaimi.. Stewart Severson and Jack the Ripper in the odd surf mag so we had to look at surfers and adapt what they did on our bodyboards. Re-entry's...cuttie's... barrells and rolls were the moves to do.
Doc: You and your brothers started the Forster/Tuncurry booger club in ’88. These days you are co vice pres of PMBA (Port Macquarie) BB club in league with World Champ Damian King. How`s the club travelling ?
JC: The club is as strong as ever. Our Juniors took pretty much the top twelve spots at each State round this year. From the parents to the new Grommetts everyone chips in to make a great comp day. Its fun and very competitive. With guys like Kingy, Brad Jackson, Sam Bennett, Charlie Holt, Chase Oleary and Keegan Cronin to compete against the kids coming through have to bring it or wait till next comp.We have good Grom's and a few girls giving them a nudge also. The club has great local sponsors who we appreciate.
Doc: You’re the new Public Officer for BB NSW. With Riders like Barney and Brad George at the helm, what changes do you see with the new blood?
JC: Basically I see a solid progression to ultimately be bigger than surfing. Yes it will happen . In the short term we are pushing fitness and professionalism as well as fun.
Doc: Always good to cover some of our boog history here in Oz, one of your brothers ANDREW created the Jeff Wilcox memorial in 1990. Can you tell us a bit about Jeff and what the memorial comp seeks to achieve?
JC: Jeff was in the surf club with us, he was the goal keeper of our hockey team and he rode the boog. He broke his leg stopping a goal durning a game. It wasnt after a series of tests they found cancer. He was here for a short stay. After chemo he would hop through school on crutches, stop and offer you a handfull of hair. He was an inspiration to take it in his stride and live each moment thats what the comp is. We are a bodyboarding family. The Jeff Wilcox comp isnt around now but I am sure it will be back.
Doc: Most readers here wont be too familiar with team comps. You’ve had some solid results in them over the years, could you give us a quick rundown on how they work?
JC: Teams have seeded riders who surf against similar seeds in a few rounds. First place will get you more points than fouth, so the better and consistent team will accumiliate more points and take the win.
Doc: what mix of Prone/DK/Stand-up Boogie are you riding?
JC: I ride 50/50 Prone/DK and get on a Mal or Short board when I feel the need. Since I won the NSW State DK title this year Ive been on the knee a lot.
Doc: What boards are you running in your current quiver and what are your current faves?
JC: Im riding a Mason stock Turbo, a round nose DK manta, a versatile Turbo and a wave rebel Kainoa which is my fave.
Doc: What dimensions and core compositions are you finding hot for your riding at the moment?
JC: I`m enjoying a thicker board than most guys and I am still a bit suss on stringers. My Kainoa is arcel so thats basically beaded poly pro, no stringer and I love the projection.
Doc: And how about accessories – leash, fins and wetsuits?
JC: I wear vipers, the groms are suspect about them but they will learn. I`ve got a creatures leash and a Dunes wetty off of Sam Bennett because he is now sponsored by ZION wetsuits.
Doc: D.O.B height and weight?
JC: I was born in the cyclone season of 1976.... 177cms small and about 65kg which makes it harder for spray man.
Doc: Fave breaks – local and overseas?
JC: Forster/Tuncurry Sth Wall B-wall Shark Island Jaynies Boulders Lennox Superbank Backsides Blackrock and Seal rocks.
Doc: What would be the biggest wave you’ve taken on?
JC: I would call it maybe 17 feet.
Doc:And what’s the toughest wave you’ve hit up?
JC: Shark Island for sure but Shippies and Guiloutines look fun.
Doc: Do you have a crew you hang with in the water?
JC: All the B-wall rats, Kingy, Sam Bennett, Charlie Holt, Chase Oleary, Jake Chelman, Liam McLennan, Jones Russel, my brother Andrew and Pro surfer Mick Campbell. When I`m in Ballina I surf with my eldest brother Michael.
Doc: What’s the maddest roadtrip you’ve been on?
JC: A mate and I drove from Port to the Goldy then down to Blackrock, Bawley, Deppo, Cronulla and back to Port. It was a mission.... we were almost a statistic.!
Doc: Best boat trip?
JC: That was this year out to the Barrier Reef with my beautiful 5 year old daughter Rhea. We found Nemo.
Doc: Who are some of your fave photogs?
JC: Tom Boyle , Don King , Tim Jones.
Doc: Board history – any chance you can remember and name the boards you have had under you over time? Fave ride ever of all of them?
JC: A Morey Aussie all foam with wings, a Scott BZ all foam before Scott and BZ split. About 5 Mach 7's, 2 BZ Ben boards,2 Mach VF's, 3 Kainoa McGee Wave Rebels.A M.D.K, A Stewart launch veichle. 2 Manta round nose Crispin models. BZ Maligs, Unknown Mason, Manta TRS Sabre, Turbo Custom and a Turbo Mason. Most of these I still have. The Kainoa board is my favourite.
Doc: Scariest moment on the boog?
JC: Getting smashed at B-wall in 1996 it took me 6 weeks to walk and I was almost in a wheelchair.
Doc: How would describe the boog scene in Australia at the moment and where do you see it heading?
JC: We are in a good time with brands by us, for us, we keep the money in our booger family. Support the brands you see helping boogers. Also we are finally getting a few good waves so lets step it up and start hitting that ten foot lip kiddies.
Doc: What do you reckon BB needs most at the moment?
JC: We need a multinational company to inject funds in at every level. Realising our potential as proper athletes. How many surfers are out a riding the reefs we surf ?
Doc: What do you love most about the BB culture?
JC: That we have so many ways to ride a wave, we are the new school of approaching waves and we know it. We are a family.
Doc: Who would you like to give a shout-out to?
JC: GOD, P.M.B.A, Tunnell rats, Rhea my angel Margo, Sam and Kingy for keeping me psyched. Gal Larar from Israel who spent a couple of weeks here D/K`ing around our beachies with me.
Doc: And finally who are your sponsors?
JC: EMERALD bodyboard shop in Cronulla And TURBO helps me out as well. THANKYOU.
Thanks so much for your time Jon
Special Note. I asked Jon to send through specifically old skool shots. We don’t get to see many around the place and they are damn hard to find. Many thanks to Jon for obliging and sending these through. I’ve put the dates in where they have been given. Incomplete info I will try and chase up along the way.
Please view with appreciation for the times they were taken in.
1. RIDER JON CAPILLI LOCATION: SHARK ISLAND BY Tors http://www.followtheswell.com/home.html
2. RIDER: JON CAPILLI BY BIARMS DIGITAL, SHARK ISLAND , TAKEN BY DARYL MENZIES.
3. RIDER: JON CAPILLI BIARMS DIGITAL, SHARK ISLAND , COPYRIGHT DARYL MENZIES.
4. RIDER: JON CAPILLI YEAR: 1989 BOARD: MACH 7`S LOCATION: FORSTER BREAKWALL BY: SHANE CHALKER
5. RIDER: JON CAPILLI YEAR: 1991 BOARD: KAINOA M`cGEE WAVE REBEL LOCATION: SEAL ROCKS BY:BRETT KNEEBONE
6. RIDER: JON CAPILLI YEAR: 1989 BOARD: MACH 7`S LOCATION: FORSTER BREAKWALL BY: SHANE CHALKER
7. RIDER: JON CAPILLI YEAR: 1991 LOCATION: BREAKWALL FORSTER TAKEN BY BRETT KNEEBONE FROM FORSTER WALL LOOKING ACCROSS THE RIVER TO TUNCURRY, ' CHANNELL SURFING'
8. JON CAPILLI PROFILE PIC
