Robert Conneeley ...

Robert Conneeley is one of the many unsung Australian surfers who made an impact on the shortboard revolution.

 

His story is very interesting. It's well worth reading, if you have time to sort through it.


At age 17, Robert won the Bell's contest in 1965.  The surf was double and triple overhead. For whatever it's worth, he beat Nat Young, who would go on the win the World Contest just a year later...

Nat Young

Robert Conneeley

Conneeley was good mates with Greenough during the heyday of the transition era, and George shaped an entire series of deep displacement hulls for him during that time.

The boards ranged from short and wide to long and narrow, with methodical spacing between the dimensions. I remember seeing a shot of him with all these beautiful boards laid out at his feet, but I can't find it anywhere.

Here's Robert riding one of his Greenough hulls at Angourie, 1970...


Robert went on to become a respected surfer and figurehead in Australia...


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