Surfing (January 2006)
Gary began surfing at age 13. He entered a local Sunshine Coast competition and gained instant recognition. He won four consecutive Queensland amateur titles as well as the 1983 Australian title. His sponsor Quiksilver introduced him to the world via a movie called 'Kong's Island'. He joined the world surfing tour and was runner up three times- 1987, 1990 and 1993. He won the Hawaiian Triple Crown in 1987 and 1989.
While world titles eluded him in the 1980s and 1990s, Gary rectified that, with an electrifying win over Tom Curren in France in 2000, to win the world masters crown. He made a courageous defence of his title in Ireland in 2001 and clinched a hat trick of titles in 2003.