The world's oldest competitive surfer has passed away at 85. Australian veteran surfer Barry "Magoo" McGuigan is a Bondi Beach legend.
Barry McGuigan truly loved surfing. "Magoo" was born in Sydney in 1929.
In the early days, he tried bodysurfing, then started surfing around 1944 in Bondi Beach and Tamarama. In those days, we would have the waves just for himself.
"There were no tutors. We just watched other surfers and tried to copy what we had observed," Barry once told, as he got inspired by the legendary Jack "Bluey" Mayes.
"It was a challenge just to stand up and keep your balance on hollow 15-foot toothpicks that weighed about 40 pounds with a bunghole to release the water and metal grip at the tail."
Throughout his life, he worked as a butcher and then enjoyed a 32-year career as a fireman.
In 1999, the Central Coast Malibu Boardriders Club organized the Magoo Classic, a longboarding competition featuring more than 150 of Australia's best riders.
The event raised funds for cancer research.
Barry "Magoo" McGuigan spent his last years fighting against non-Hodgkin lymphoma and catching waves in the Soldier's Beach area on the Central Coast.
The Bondi Beach legend never gave up on surfing and yoga. The iconic surfing veteran kept competing, and 2014 was no exception.
"Magoo" will forever be remembered as one of the first Australians to ride Makaha in Hawaii.