McAlister, Charles "Snow" (1904 – c.1988)

Robust and sociable Australian surfing pioneer from Manly Beach, New South Wales; a three-time Australian surfing champion in the 1920s; often referred to as the "father of Australian surfing." McAlister was born (1904) and raised in Sydney's Broken Hill, the son of a mailman, and took to the surf immediately when his family moved to Manly Beach in 1914 -- just in time to see Hawaiian swimmer and surfer Duke Kahanamoku give his famous wave-riding demonstration at nearby Freshwater Beach.

"I ...