SURFERMAG.COM ONLINE EXCLUSIVES
BRA BOYS The Often Maligned Surf Brotherhood's New Movie
On March 10th, 2006, three years after Koby Abberton’s brother, Jai, shot and killed a notorious local thug and dumped his body off the cliff at Maroubra, the final scene of a legal battle that gripped Australia was about to play out. Jai Abberton had already made Australian legal history by being acquitted of murder on the grounds of self-defense, but now it was Koby’s turn. Koby, one of Australia’s best surfing talents, had been found guilty of lying to police to cover up the shooting, and now Koby was standing in front of the judge waiting to hear his sentence, well aware the crime carried a 14-year maximum sentence. With the words “My Brother’s Keeper” inked around his neck, he was set to find out the price of that motto.
“I’m going to sentence you to nine months in jail,” the judge said gruffly. But after a pregnant 30-second pause, he delivered a sweet kicker: “But I am going to suspend the sentence.”
Just like that, after two long years of legal handcuffs, Koby walked out of court a free man, and immediately celebrated in the front bar of the Maroubra Hotel with his brothers and a group of the Bra Boys (a photo of which made the front page of Australia’s biggest newspapers). Finally, he could begin again. March 10th was the first day of the rest of his life, and his world immediately began to open up. While he could enjoy the private victories of being able to surf and travel wherever he wants, being out of the media spotlight doesn’t seem to be in the cards. In the days after he was given his freedom Koby was spotted hanging out with actor Russell Crowe, and there’s talk of movie deals, new sponsors...and of course a few surf trips, where he hopes to continue pushing the boundaries of what’s deemed surfable. Today, as a free man again, what he’s capable of doing is anyone’s guess.
Today, Koby Abberton is sticking his head out the window of a dilapidated unit he now rents above the local laundromat in Maroubra. The entire place is scarred by salt air, but it affords him an uninterrupted view of his beloved Maroubra Beach. Abberton is a long way from his million-dollar crib of two years ago, but right now the big-wave soldier and Bra Boy figurehead couldn’t care less. After three years of hell, today he’s sporting a smile like a split watermelon. Today he is free. We caught up with Koby to let him tell his story, so here it is, in his own words.
Welcome to the Neighborhood
I’ve lived in Maroubra my whole life. I was born
in a house just up the road in Astoria Circuit,
up in Lexington Place, the housing commission
capital of Sydney. I was actually born in
the house. My mum was a heroin addict and
she knew she’d get in trouble if she had me
delivered up in the hospital.
Growing up in Maroubra there were a lot
more drugs, a lot more gangs, heaps of heroin
in the area, and everyone was trying to control
it. Heaps of shit going on with guns and
knives and street battles.
I never had anything to do with heroin, but it was hard to keep out of all the shit when it’s all around you, all around the beach. People pulling guns on people, shootings, and a lot of heroin addicts around the area...and it’s pretty hard to keep away from it all when your mum’s a heroin addict. I was pretty much in the thick of it then.
The only dad I ever knew was a bank robber who just did 12 years for bank robbery. He wasn’t my dad, he was my mum’s boyfriend. When I was a kid me and me best mate Jed used to hide under me mum’s bed and he’d be under one side with a balaclava on, holding a shotgun, and I’d have two handguns with a balaclava on. Never looked to see if they were loaded. Just playing with them like toys. Little did we know they’d probably just been used in a bank robbery. Into the Fire
One day when I was 12 I walked into the house to find mum and her boyfriend shooting up heroin with all their friends. When I told her boyfriend to get out, he hit me over the head with a baseball bat and kicked me out of the house. I was 12 years old then and I’ve never been home since.
I went straight down to my brother Sunny’s and started crying. He just said, “Don’t worry, just try to forget about it and put everything you’ve got into your surfing. That’s our way out of this life.” So I moved down to Sunny’s and for the next year, year and a half, I stayed with my friends, living on their couches, and then eventually I got a house with my brother, which just happened to be next door to my grandmother’s place. The funny thing is I can’t remember much about growing up until I was, like, 12. I don’t know if my mind blocks out my childhood...or if I’ve just got a bad memory. [Laughing]. But I do remember when I was 13, paddling out when it was massive with my brothers, surfing as hard as I could. It was when I started surfing that my life got better.
Taking Back Maroubra
When I was about 14 our crew started the Bra
Boys, and basically started controlling the
place. We said there’s not going to be any
heroin in Maroubra anymore, because we didn’t
want drugs in the place. After all that shit
happened, we had a solid crew of about 20 or
30 of us, then it gradually turned into 50, then
100, and now there’s three or four hundred.
We just wanted to stamp it out of the area.
We’d hear of a house that was selling it and
we’d go and kick the door in and go and sort
it out. And we stopped it and the place
became better straightaway. Today, by comparison,
nobody is doing heroin in Maroubra.
It’s a different place, there’s cafés,
families...but y’know, it still lights up at night.
The Bra Boys kept me out of a lot of trou-
ble. I was a pretty bad kid, got kicked out of
school at the start of Year 8 [8th Grade], and it
was pretty well a free-for-all. I did what I wanted,
but I had them there to pull me out. I had
them to watch over me.
Around here, either you’re going to be the best fighter, the best footballer, the best chickpuller, or the best surfer. It’s just a massive race to be the best, and it’s not just my brothers, or the Bra Boys; it’s the whole area. If you’re going to do something you go the hardest at it. It’s all about being Number One. If you’re not Number One and not going the hardest you shouldn’t be living here.
Blood Brothers
You couldn’t get a closer set of brothers than
the three of us. I mean it shows with what I
just went through in the courts. Sunny used to
be away a lot on the tour, so Jai and I used to
be at home together in trouble, always together.
We’re probably the closest. We fight a lot
but we’re the closest brothers you could ever
find. Through all our troubles we were always
the ones together. We’d have a fistfight one
day and be best mates again the next, like it
was nothing.
By My Side
Around here, mate, if you don’t have someone
looking out for you, you’re pretty well going to
go to jail. The fighting, the surfing, the partying—
it’s such a fine line between having a
good time and going to jail. To be going the
hardest at it, you’re sometimes going to end
up on the wrong end of the law.
With Marky [Matthews] I used to pay for
his tickets to travel around the place for his
surf trips. Now I got a new kid, Jesse Pollock,
I’m paying his trips now. I’ve paid for him to
go to Tazzy with me a couple of times, down
to Victoria. He’s got real potential. He was
going hard at 10-foot Shipsterns the other day
like it was nothing.
My Brother’s Keeper
The night of the shooting I didn’t think about
the future or myself, I just thought about Jai.
We haven’t had good lives and we didn’t
deserve that. The guy was a rapist and the
guy was a killer. I knew it would be tough from
there, though, and I knew there were people
who were out to get us. There were people in
the court case [testifying against Jai] who Jai
never even knew, who were saying they were
shooting up heroin with him and that he told
them about the shooting. The first thing we
did was get a blood test for Jai to see if he’d
ever had heroin in his system and it came
back completely clear. So there goes that witness,
but where did he come from? Why
would he say that? You can tell how hard they
were coming after us.
Courting Waves
Y’know the worst thing about court: missing
out on surf. Mate, between Tazzy and Tahiti the
last couple of years it’s been killing me. You
wanna know something? It can be a week
before court and there’s no swell anywhere,
and I’d say to the boys, I’d go, “Boys, watch
this,” and the day of court the surf was on,
every day. The court swell. Every day. I’d be sitting
in court listening to some f---ing judge just
waffling, watching his mouth move, and all I’m
hearing him say is, “Tahiti, Tahiti, Tahiti.” And I’m
just going, “Get me out of this f---ing joint!”
RELATED STORIES
|
READER COMMENTS
Tue Mar18, 2008, 7:13 PM
Great story, definitely something to remember while makin your way through life. Definitely gotta respect the blood the abberton brothers share and what they make of it.
Fri Mar21, 2008, 12:09 AM
Koby your an inspiration mate. I just started hearing about the Bra Boys after seeing the movie and i cant beleive what u boys have been through. Its an amazing story to hear about. It has inspired me to live my life and i have nothing but respect for the Abberton Brothers.
Sun Mar23, 2008, 4:18 AM
I've just watched the Bra Boys movie--twice and am in awe of you and your brothers Coby.Keep up the good work and hammer it hard--always.
Mon Mar31, 2008, 12:03 AM
hay budy you rock.done well for your self
Thu Apr 3, 2008, 1:08 PM
i just named my first son koby because i think that after everything that happens in life you've still been able to keep your respect and strong family bonds not to forget what a surfer you are
Fri Apr 4, 2008, 2:15 PM
Yea getting away with murder is sooo inspirational as long as you do something cool like surfing and say "bra" a lot and hang out with the biggest fame grubber in the world. All humans are redeemable but it makes me sick to my stomach to see so many people swooning over guys who murdered someone and threw him off a cliff...I don't care how bad the guy was it doesn't make murder legal.
Sat Apr 5, 2008, 8:58 AM
Truth Keeper, you seem to miss the point. Self defense in not murder! A simple judgmental mind like your gets people hung. Thank God there is a justice system and it was judged on it merits. Ohh yer you were part of jury, heard all the evidence? Where I come from those statements are slander, so go back to your from and I hope you are redeemable too, JERK Good doco by the way!
Tue Apr 8, 2008, 4:27 AM
THiS DOCUMENTRy IS iNSPiRATIONAL & MiND TWiSTiNG. IT`z SOMETHiNK WHiCH BRiNG`Z YOIUR ATTENTiON TO MiND. SOME DAY i HOPE ALL THE VIOLENCE & MiS CONDUCT STOP`z. i GiVE YOU ABBERTON BROTHER`z FULL RESPECT & THE BRA BOy`z. THE DOCUMENTRy MADE ME FEEL LIkE THEiR SHOULD BE MORE ROLE MODEL`z LiKE YOU ABBERTON BROTHER`z WHO TOOK UNDER WiNG YOUNG TEEN`z & TEACHED THEM THE RiGHT`Z & LET THEM DO WHAT THEy LOVED DOiNG. SURFiNG.LOVE iT GUy`z.xO
Sat Apr12, 2008, 1:59 AM
mann i just watched bra boys and man koby im inspired seriously im a surfer myself im still learning but watching you, how yous dont give a shit if yoir gonna die that die just living life ya know blood is thicker than water and your definately right you guys got eachothers back mann if i was a boy id join bra boys haa
Sat Apr12, 2008, 5:17 AM
hey I hung out with THines scarry dude a regular leval4 killer ,sometimes you gota do what you gotta do .jai your achamp stay down my roo riding brothers.And by the way when I went to maroubra from along way away they you guys treated me like a long lost brother and we just met
Tue Apr22, 2008, 2:41 AM
Hines fucked up my ex girlfriend. Good riddance cunt.
Fri Apr25, 2008, 3:27 AM
Koby.. you are an inspiration to all the people who would like to achieve a certain goal in their life.. when you went through that court case with Jai i followed seeing what was going to happen.. because i knew that what ever happened that day you were always just going to get back on that board.. you boys are to be proud of yourselves.. if i was a boy i would know that you guys would take me in.. Peace out BRA BOYS!! x
Mon Apr28, 2008, 7:04 PM
awesome story! definately gives another outlook on "gangs" and how they deal with things. the abberton brothers are an inspiration to drug-free surfers! forsure! much love from ponce, florida
Tue May20, 2008, 11:31 PM
KOBY, YOUR STORY AND OVER ALL DOCUMENTARY WAS SICK. I REALLY UNDERSTAND HOW GOING 100% IN EVERYTHING REALLY STRENGTHENS YOUR MIND FOR ANYTHING IN LIFE NOW. YOU ARE ONE BAD AS LAD AND I WOULD BE SO STOKED TO HANG WITH YOU CRAZY MATES. I CANT BELIEVE YOU STOOD YOUR GROUND TO JOHNY GOMES, ACTUALLY I CAN.
Thu May22, 2008, 2:23 AM
I was watching your documentary.. Living in Adelaide nothing beats the smooth and gutsy riding of the surf where you live. I love the water and while I don't surf in the sea I surf behind a ski boat and its a awsome feeling just doing something you love and feeling free as I do just forgetting all the shit that goes on in your life for one split second you go for it. Like you guys have shown.Courage and a bond I love that.... You guys are gold!!! Koby mmmmmwah
Fri May23, 2008, 11:11 PM
I'm not a surfer but I have huge respect for the lifestyle and the sport. I just watched Bra Boys today and it hit me hard! You guys are amazing and I believe the world would have a lot less F***** up individuals if familyless troubled kids everywhere had the opportuninty to belong to such a strong band of brothers. By the way, I grew up surrounded by heroin abuse which was horrible and bleak. I never used, but both of my parents were addicts along with most of there closest friends and most of them did'nt live past the age of 50 so I can only wish you guys were around to clean up those streets! Hell, I might even be a surfer if that were the case. Much love Bros!!!
Sat May31, 2008, 10:37 PM
Hey Koby. I tried to surf Maroubra a while back. I was with a couple of girls . I also used to go out with a Maroubra fellow.Long way from the beach now.You are great.You are my 13year old son's hero.xoxoxolina
Sun Jun 1, 2008, 4:21 AM
guys, i saw the movie ann well was completely blown away by it... i actually lived in maroubra for 18months shielst i lived in sydney, just next to the synogogue, and even that part whenever iwas down the beach, i seen how you guys, or WHO i thought were 'bra boys' took young kids under ur arms and shown them there more to life than all the shit thats out there... i could relate to this through hearing n viewing all about ur 'Ma... i and a group of friends had an old lady round teh neighborhood like her... whaqt i also loved about the movie that unlike most other docco's n that, this was the real deal, no bullshit no lies... i would love to see another film like this... after all ive seen and heard of in maroubra, ill tip my hat to you guys ANY day of the week... peace..!
Tue Jun10, 2008, 6:02 AM
Koby, you should tattoo your full home address on your back so you dont forget it: 1/A Dickhead Street Maroubra 2035
Thu Jun19, 2008, 7:18 AM
hey koby..you are an insperation to not only me but to all surfers that have been thru the ringers !! i was a heroin addict and surfing was my saviour...i am 37 and been surfing 4 20 years now,and looking like i will never stop...i will never ride a mal !! short boards and big waves...i love to roll like you boys do and would love it to hear you screamin' at me ..charge it chris,go ,go, go,go..those words coming from a man like you in the lineup would inspire me to surf shippies ....."FUKIN LITTLE JESSE HAS BIG FUKIN KAHOONA'S" HE SURFED SHIPPIED FULL STEAM AND he surfed "OURS" ..FUCK THAT...LMAO...ABBERTON BROS AND BRA BOYS..TOTAL INSPERATION TO ME AND MY 8 YEAR OLD GROMMIE SON !!..CHEERS KOBY...KEEP CARVING...CHRIS...
Mon Jun30, 2008, 8:02 AM
I used to live in Astoria Circuit. I'm the same age as Dakota, and yeah i remember the area was pretty bad in the 90s, in fact probably worse than what's described. I was born in '91, and i can remember as a young boy growing up, the nearby park (Coral Sea) was full of syringes, even in the childrens' sandpit. I wasn't ever allowed to take my shoes off in the sand just in case
Wed Jul 9, 2008, 8:36 AM
Was that movie supposed to make u cry?? ;)
Mon Jul21, 2008, 7:55 AM
Absolute JOKE! They r a disgrace to Maroubra. Ask any of the old fellows from there. They HATE em! They r as weak as piss and can only fight in a bunch. They go overseas and try and be tough. Only to have the locals come and teach em a lesson & they run off! LOL.. Funniest Thing I've seen! Stay in The Bra, you D!cks!
Sun Jul27, 2008, 7:07 PM
this is a truely touching story.for the fact of how real and dedicated the bra boys are for living a better life and finding right even tho sometimes shit aint right.the abbertons are rightous dudes and i got a lot of love for you dudes.my dad is a herion addict and i havent seen him since i was 4 ,and me and my 4 brothers were left with a single mother who made shit pay and lived in poverty in the slums for most my life until i finally made it out and live in another slum.all my dedication goes to surfing and being at the beach and my art that i paint all over the world.i wish i lived closer to the beach and that our side(northeast)got better waves more often then just relying on the hurricaine swells a quarter of the year.i hope to chill wit you guys one day when i finally get enough money to fly down to australia and go surfing all day long and share memories.
Thu Aug28, 2008, 5:36 AM
it's amazing how your brothership fight and win against everything, you are an example for all the surfers. surf for life.. from chile!!!
Thu Dec 4, 2008, 6:11 AM
Go boys all the best always and rock on. Its good to see these days that the brothers have got balls not like the pussies of today bagging you with their shitty lifestyles looking in the mirror doing their ship shop hairstyles talkin shit. merry christmas.
Mon Dec 8, 2008, 2:35 AM
I am in two minds about the "Bra Boys" documentary. I think Koby Abberton is a great example of making something of himself through becoming one of Australia's top big wave surfers. I do believe that God has protected you throughout your life and that you understand between right and wrong. However, the devil is always close by and he will come into your life whenever you give him a chance. You must be careful not to let him into your life and protect what you have strived so hard to achieve. It can all be taken away from you just by going out and hanging out in the wrong places with the wrong people. It may seem fun to you at the time but the consequences you will pay for with your life. I pray for you Koby and your brothers that you will turn to God when you need his help, but that you will remember what he has done for you so far and not to take it for granted. God Bless and may the Lord keep you and your family safe. May you let God speak to you through your heart and he w
Tue Dec 9, 2008, 3:32 AM
It may seem fun to you at the time but the consequences you will pay for with your life. I pray for you Koby and your brothers that you will turn to God when you need his help, but that you will remember what he has done for you so far and not to take it for granted.
Sat Jan17, 2009, 9:31 AM
all the best for a happy and safe 2009 fellas you are an inspiration to my life,thankyou. koby you are beautiful and was wondering when you are going to make an honest woman out of that sweet angel of yours??? lol.you and your girl are perfect! dont change and dont let any bastard insult your intelligence. oh and my dad thinks he went to school with your grand father. is your pops name ken abberton? my dad is an old bronte boy. take care guys and stay beautiful. love curly g xxx
Mon Mar30, 2009, 7:15 AM
tits amazing how one documentary written and directed by the subjects themselves can make people think the Bra Boys are good for the community.. are you kidding me. These thugs are a joke and a discrace to the great city of Sydney. I grew up in Maroubra and these lunatics made good honest hard working people afraid in their own community, there violence and crime destroyed the very place they so proudly think they protect. Fuck the Bra Boys I hope you all pay for the shit you have caused.
Mon Apr13, 2009, 3:10 PM
aloha kody abberton iam a really big fan of yours i live in hawaii, iam thinking of traveling to australia when i get out of school marubra to be exact. i watched your movie and i thought it was really interesting well thought i would share that interesting peace of information with you aloha and mahalo...
Mon May 4, 2009, 9:56 PM
Very imature of you mate, as well as a very 18yo language style...it's good that you did something in life but too bad you've achieved that through violence and thinking that you're cool. Grow up. And all the fans out there should grow up too. I hope they will get only the good things you did in your life. Also, is quite pathetic when you see that your fans are in the 12-28 yo age bracket. That should tell you something. GROW UP and do only good things. The bad boy image is nice only in movies...oh sorry ..documentaries.
Thu Jul30, 2009, 7:32 AM
lmao u guys have no idea what u even stand for.. uor wat u atnd for.. seriously u guys are a bunch of fools.. step into reality the lot of yas. ive met a few of u self provlaimed "brothers keepers" who exactly is it u protect.. u guys are just living up the money and the fame, collectin followers along the way, you know wat u boys are great at the sport u do, but leave it at that, if u wanna try and get the drugs off the streets stop dealing them and taking them your selves!!!
Wed Sep30, 2009, 1:55 AM
Shame most of this is total Bullshit Koby.
Wed Oct 7, 2009, 11:59 AM
They didnt tell there story for the publicity or money you wankers, it was to get the full story out there in there own words and not from the fucked up press or the scum cops. They did it to prove that people like us growing up in houso and having a mum who uses can make somthing out of there selfs if anything you should praise them for what they have acheived not pick there faults out aye..Im a full blood Queensland Girl and our boys here hold a lot of resepct for the bra boys , there not try hard little gang with no morals and weak dogs who would give there mate up in a flash , there a fucking community , hassled by the coppers just because of who they are And anyway i doubt it very much that any of you fairys would dare say that shit to there face all tough when there not in front of you...So shut your fucking mouths you clowns!!!
Tue Oct20, 2009, 7:38 AM
Yeah, people work there whole lives for what they've accomplished.Cut them sum slack.
Mon Nov 9, 2009, 7:44 AM
I have already seen the movie, yesterday evening, it is really an amazing story, all of you...koby, the bra boys, jai, the mama, all of you. you all seem to have had a deep story, you can see it in your eyes. you are great in surfing, I hope you are great too in your entirely life.