Free Ride 1975 at Burleigh Heads

In 1975, filmmaker Bill Delaney embarked on a groundbreaking venture while working on his new surf movie, Free Ride. Delaney envisioned capturing a unique perspective from behind the surfer inside the tube—a feat that had never been accomplished. To do this, Bill had to figure out how to mount a movie camera onto the rear deck of a surfboard and then find a surfer who could actually get tubed with this massive, heavy device mounted on the back.

Delaney wanted to film in the famous, long, hollow Burleigh Barrel. He decided to approach renowned shaper Dick Van Straalen at his new factory to see if the camera and housing could be mounted onto the tail of one of his surfboards. Dick selected an older board belonging to fellow surfer John Charlton for the task—a bright red, seven-foot-plus beauty of a pintail.

The challenge lay in the weight and height of the camera, which needed to be angled perfectly to capture both the surfer and the tube from behind. This cumbersome and risky setup made it difficult to find a willing rider. As it happened, I had just started shaping surfboards at the Van Straalen factory. Dick walked into my bay and suggested I would be the perfect guy to take on the challenge. My reward? A brand-new wetsuit from the director. Back in 1975, wetsuits were expensive and hard to come by—especially in Queensland. All I had to do was go get barreled? Needless to say, I jumped at the opportunity.

The following morning, we gathered at Burleigh Point with Dick Van Straalen, John Charlton, Dick Hoole, and Bill Delaney to test the setup. With no remote control, the camera had to run continuously throughout the session, leaving the team uncertain of the results until the film could be processed and played back later.

Fortune was on Bill's side as well as mine: Burleigh was pumping, offering up perfect offshore barrels, and the point was completely empty.

Riding the camera board turned out to be a massive challenge due to its sheer bulk and instability. 1970s technology made the rig at least 100 times larger than today’s lightweight GoPro cameras. I paddled out feeling the awkward weight of this heavy, military-grade camera behind me. Capable of capturing 200 frames per second inside its sizeable waterproof Perspex and silicone housing, it produced clear, super slow-motion footage—all while securely bolted to the deck with hefty stainless steel hardware.

I recall having to rely purely on instinct to get the balance just right. After about 20 minutes in the water, I felt confident we had captured something special. I scored six or seven great waves without any drama before returning to shore—fully stoked, uninjured, and with their expensive camera rig completely intact.

The crew dismantled the rig and took the camera back to their makeshift studio to process the film using bulky, old-school analog equipment. They called me at home later that evening just as they were reviewing my waves, and I could hear the hoots and cheers in the background. The crew was thrilled with the outcome, and Bill let me know I had secured enough quality tube time for him to achieve his dream footage.

This innovative surf movie marked the first-ever use of a forward-facing, tail-mounted movie camera in a surf film. Working with Bill Delaney was an exhilarating experience, and our ever-faithful Burleigh provided exceptional waves for the segment. Additionally, the new wetsuit was a welcome bonus for the winter of '75.

Free Ride went on to become a cult classic. That hypnotic footage, set to the song "Breakaway" by Gallagher and Lyle, made history by sharing the visual experience of being inside the tube with people who had never surfed before—no doubt sparking a desire in many to try this magical sport.

Free Ride has since been recognized as an iconic contribution to surf filmography and '70s culture, resonating with surfers and non-surfers alike. Fittingly, it was recently digitally remastered and re-released to sold-out screenings around the globe, preserving the timeless legacy of this pioneering adventure and the endlessly perfect waves of Burleigh.