KONG

In the world of pro-surfing, personalities don't come any bigger than Gary 'Kong' Elkerton.

Born in Ballina and brought up on a prawn trawler, Gary took to surfing when school, discipline and other conventions failed him. Cutting a swathe through the industry, living the life, getting the girls, taking the drugs -- it all added up to a very good time until he woke up one day and found his nickname and reputation had become the 100-pound gorilla on his back, one which it was going to be very tough to rid himself of.

What do you do when everything around you, including the industry you're in, encourages your bad behaviour and then punishes you for it?

An eye-opening wild ride and a great Australian story.

About the Author

Gary ‘Kong’ Elkerton grew up on a prawn trawler where he developed a healthy disregard for the terrors of the ocean. As a youngster, thinking of ways to get out of going to school, he hit on surfing. It was an ideal life for him as it included partying hard, taking any amount of drugs and drink which was put in front of him, chatting up girls and generally running into trouble.

Luckily he had talent. One of Australian surfing's living legends, a Hall of Fame inductee, one of the Top Five contenders in the heady days of pro surfing in the '80s and '90s, three times ASP (Association of Surfing Professionals) 2nd World Title runner up, Kong is also multiple Hawaiian Triple Crown champion and three times reigning undefeated ASP World Masters Champion. He is renowned for his muscular style which has unnerved giants including Michael Ho and Kelly Slater.