WA surfer Ian ‘Kanga’ Cairns officially unleashed his biography at the WA Surf Gallery on Friday evening at Aravina Estate.
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In the 1980s, Kanga was responsible for turning surfing into a professional sport, spearheading the Association of Surfing Professionals, which would eventually become the World Surf League.
Author of the biography Wayne Patrick Murphy said surfing had changed so much since Kanga’s early days at Margaret River when he first dreamed of making a living as a pro surfer, when there was no such thing.
Mr Murphy said surfing was largely frowned upon by society, and now it was a multi-billion dollar industry today with Olympic Games recognition.
“Kanga has lived such a fascinating life that has impacted on many people around the world, for better and worse. That's why I wrote this book,” he said.
Cairns said the process of writing his story with the help of Murphy had been a refreshing trip down memory lane.
“It’s been cathartic reliving old times, the good and putting to rest the bad,” he said.
“I now realize that there have been many wonderful moments and I’m really proud of how well the book has come out.
“Working with Wayne has been a fabulous journey. His patience has been giant in dealing with someone as willful as me.”
