Kong. Photo: Frieden/A-Frame

A brash, spiky haired, beak nosed board icon, Gary Elkerton was one of those 80’s larrikins who in between partying and assorted carry- on, managed to put in the hard yards on tour to become an international surf star. He grew up surfing Barrier Reef bombies off his dad’s fishing trawler becoming comfortable in heavy open ocean surf, helping him become a standout on the North Shore, and getting the outside section at G-Land (Kong’s) named after him. Early video Kong’s Island revealed a thick set youth with improbable power lines and an outlandish, fearless approach. Alas, his brutish, heavy footed turns suddenly seemed outdated along with any other 80’s survivors over 25 when Slater came along with flip tip boards and tail slides. Elko missed out on an ASP World Title as runner up an agonising three times, but went some way towards vindication with three Masters titles. Hardly the same though, is it?