Kim Bradley (surfer)

Last updated

Kim Bradley (died 26 March 2009) was an Australian surfer that pioneered surfing competitions on the island of Bali, organizing the first one in 1979. [1] He converted to Hinduism during his time in Bali. [2]

Kim Bradley, nicknamed 'The Fly', was born on 9 May 1955. He grew up surfing at Avalon on the Northern Peninsula of Sydney, where would work for Tracks magazine briefly, then leave to travel with David 'Mexican' Sumpter showing surf movies also surfing epic Australian waves like 'Cactus' along the way.

Kim went to Bali at 18 years of age in April/May 1974, where he would eventually marry a Balinese girl and have three children (two sons and a daughter). His friend Steven Cooney would star along with Rusty Miller in the epic surf movie 'Morning of the Earth', but it was Kim Bradley who appeared on the first wave of the same movie, appropriately enough as he would live his life out in Bali. Kim made a name for himself as a surfer who systematically searched and found many waves in Indonesia that people now surf.. He was there at Uluwatu when Gerry Lopez and Jeff Hackman were first surfing the Indonesian waves, He was always in the company of legendary surfers who could not help but like and respect him. In 1974 Gerry Lopez gave him his lightning bolt surfboard as a token of good waves and company together.

He died on 26 March 2009 in Bali.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Surfing</span> Sport of riding waves

Surfing is a surface water sport in which an individual, a surfer, uses a board to ride on the forward section, or face, of a moving wave of water, which usually carries the surfer towards the shore. Waves suitable for surfing are primarily found on ocean shores, but can also be found in standing waves in the open ocean, in lakes, in rivers in the form of a tidal bore, or in wave pools.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kelly Slater</span> American surfer (born 1972)

Robert Kelly Slater is an American professional surfer, best known for being crowned World Surf League champion a record 11 times. Slater is widely regarded as the greatest professional surfer of all time, and holds 56 Championship Tour victories. He won the Laureus World Action Sportsperson of the Year four-times. Slater is also the oldest surfer still active on the World Surf League, winning his 8th Billabong Pipeline Masters title at age 49.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mavericks, California</span> Surfing location in California, US

Mavericks is a surfing location in northern California outside Pillar Point Harbor, just north of the town of Half Moon Bay at the village of Princeton-by-the-Sea. After a strong winter storm in the northern Pacific Ocean, waves can routinely crest at over 25 ft (8 m) and top out at over 60 ft (18 m). Routinely, waves that break can be recorded on seismometers. The break is caused by an unusually shaped underwater rock formation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Laird Hamilton</span> American big-wave surfer

Laird John Hamilton is an American big-wave surfer, co-inventor of tow-in surfing, and an occasional fashion and action-sports model and actor. He is married to Gabrielle Reece, a former professional volleyball player, television personality, and model.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mister Pipeline</span>

Mister Pipeline is a title given to masters of the waves at the North Shore's Pipeline. It was first given to Butch Van Artsdalen, and is passed on from generation to generation, by consensus. During this year, the Pipeline was at the forefront of surfing competitions. This first initial competition was sponsored by Continental Airlines, giving the winner a share of $500. Hakman rode six- to eight-foot waves for hours despite the conditions, being a leader in the big-wave riders at Pipeline. While Hakman dominated the first year of the competition, newcomer Michael Armstrong stunned the event by clinging to second place and a $250 prize. Corky Carroll took third place with a $150 prize. Other holders of the title have included sometime actor Gerry Lopez and bodyboarding legend Mike Stewart.

<i>Big Wednesday</i> 1978 film directed by John Milius

Big Wednesday is a 1978 American coming of age buddy sports comedy-drama film directed by John Milius. Written by Milius and Dennis Aaberg, it is loosely based on their own experiences at Malibu, California. The picture stars Jan-Michael Vincent, William Katt, and Gary Busey as California surfers facing life and the Vietnam War against the backdrop of their love of surfing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Banzai Pipeline</span> Surf reef break in Hawaii, United States

The Banzai Pipeline, or simply Pipeline or Pipe, is a surf reef break located in Hawaii, off Ehukai Beach Park in Pupukea on O'ahu's North Shore. A reef break is an area in the ocean where waves start to break once they reach the shallows of a reef. Pipeline is known for huge waves that break in shallow water just above a sharp and cavernous reef, forming large, hollow, thick curls of water that surfers can tube ride. There are three reefs at Pipeline in progressively deeper water farther out to sea that activate according to the increasing size of approaching ocean swells.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Surf culture</span> Culture associated with the sport surfing

Surf culture includes the people, language, fashion, and lifestyle surrounding the sport of surfing. The history of surfing began with the ancient Polynesians. That initial culture directly influenced modern surfing, which began to flourish and evolve in the early 20th century, with its popularity peaking during the 1950s and 1960s. It has affected music, fashion, literature, film, art, and youth jargon in popular culture. The number of surfers throughout the world continues to increase as the culture spreads.

Ross Clarke-Jones is an Australian big wave surfer. He originally came from Terrigal in the Central Coast, of New South Wales, Australia where he enjoyed surfing Terrigal Haven, a point break that produces rare waves lasting for up to 300 metres on a big swell.

Gerry Lopez, aka Mr. Pipeline, is an American surfer, shaper, journalist and film actor.

Bruce Irons is an American regularfoot professional surfer from Hanalei, Kauai and is often regarded as one of the best tuberiders of all time. He is the younger brother of three-time world champion Andy Irons.

<i>Riding Giants</i> 2004 film by Stacy Peralta

Riding Giants is a 2004 documentary film produced by Agi Orsi and directed and narrated by Stacy Peralta, a famous skater/surfer. The movie traces the origins of surfing and specifically focuses on the art of big wave riding. Some of the featured surfers are Greg Noll, Laird Hamilton, and Jeff Clark, and surfing pioneers such as Mickey Munoz.

<i>North Shore</i> (1987 film) 1987 film by William Phelps

North Shore is a 1987 American action drama surf film directed by William Phelps. The film is about Rick Kane, a young surfer from a wave tank in Arizona, who heads to surf the season on the North Shore of Oʻahu to see if he has the skills to cut it as a pro surfer. As he progresses on his journey, he learns the qualities he possesses are not going to pull him through alone.

Morning of the Earth is a 1971 classic surf film by Alby Falzon and David Elfick.

G-Land, also known as Plengkung Beach, is an internationally renowned surf break on Grajagan Bay, Banyuwangi, Alas Purwo National Park, East Java, Indonesia, about half a day by road from the popular tourist destinations of Bali. It is most commonly reached via boat charter from Bali.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Teahupo'o</span> Associated commune of Taiarapu-Ouest in French Polynesia, France

Teahupoʻo is a village on the southwestern coast of the island of Tahiti, French Polynesia, in the southern Pacific Ocean.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Surfing in Indonesia</span> Place in Indonesia

Introduced to Indonesia in the 1930s, surfing now attracts both Indonesian and foreign surfers to numerous locations across the nation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Uluwatu, Bali</span> Region in Bali, Indonesia

Uluwatu is a region on the south-western tip of the Bukit Peninsula of Bali, Indonesia. It is home to the Pura Luhur Uluwatu temple.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Martin Daly (captain)</span> Captain of the Indies Trader during its surf exploration trips

Martin Daly is an Australian Captain and surfer who is known for his surf discoveries aboard the M.V. Indies Trader and is known as "surfing's most iconic boat captain".

References

  1. Bali Surfers Archived 30 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine Bali Echo Magazine – April – May 2001
  2. Surfing legend Kim 'Fly' Bradley dies in Bali Agence France Presse – 1 April 2009