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When Jai got out, it was incredible. It’s what we’d dreamed of. The first surf back together with me and Jai and Sun was insane. Jai had just been found not guilty, and just to have each other free was insane. I still had charges against me, but Jai was free and that was all that mattered to me. And the brothers were back together. We were at Gnaraloo, and the first surf Jai had was at like 12- to 15-foot Gnaraloo. The first wave he gets is this big massive drop, and I’m just paddling over the wave yelling at him, “Go, you pussy!” He just paddles back out screaming his head off. We were laughing for days. It was an amazing feeling.
Respect
My Hawaiian friends stood by me all the way.
Like the Irons boys, they were completely
there for me, ringing me up every week. Kai
Garcia, the Rothmans, Brock Little, all those
guys were really concerned about me. After
those first years of going to Hawaii and having
dramas [Koby famously went toe-to-toe with
Johnny-Boy Gomes, refusing to back down],
and them seeing that I was a man who stood
up for myself, they respected that. Kai’s
become like a big brother. You don’t come
across too many 275-pound
gentlemen...maybe 225-pound, he probably
wouldn’t like me saying he’s 250. [Laughing.]
There’s a lot of similarities between those guys
and us, for sure. They come here and go into
the pub and drink beers and hang out and
party like they’re one of us. They’re just ready
to rock, whatever happens.
A Break Called Ours
Ours is a gnarly reef. For how heavy it is, it’s a
surprise no one’s been hurt...properly hurt.
There’s been plenty of stitches—there’s stitches
every surf—but no one’s died, and the guys
have been pulling into some pretty heavy ones
out there. It’s such a scene, though, all the
boys on the rocks screaming off their heads,
yahooing, then you got the rocks themselves.
Everyone thinks there’s a bad vibe out
there and it’s all trouble, but you’re going to get
teased out there before you’re going to get
bashed. It’s such a small take-off zone, everyone
can keep an eye on everyone else. It’s hard
to slip under the radar. I think more people are
hesitant about going out, not because they’re
afraid of getting beaten up, but they’re more
worried about getting the shit ripped out of
them if they don’t charge, y’know what I mean?
Because you’re right there, right in the thick of
it, and if you pull back on one you’re not going
to get another one.
Recent Riots in the Streets
What happened in Cronulla a few months ago
was the most cowardly thing I’ve ever seen. It
was disgusting. Three thousand people beating
up four blokes. And then all those kids
getting arrested, then locked up and going
straight into protection.
It was something that I said that got quoted
in the paper [that sparked the spread of the
riots from Cronulla to Maroubra]. What I actually
told the guy when he spoke to me was, “The
Bra Boys police the area but everyone’s welcome.”
Do you think the reporter put in the
last bit about everyone being welcome? It
dropped off. Then he rang me and said, “I’m
really sorry about that,” and I said, “Mate, a
hundred cars got smashed because you left
off the end of a sentence.”
I was here [in Maroubra] a couple of
nights when we were waiting for the retaliation,
and there were 500 to 1,000 people in
the streets with knives, bats and guns, and I
said to Sunny, “We gotta stop this.” There
would have been people dying. If those guys
[the Middle Eastern gangs] had turned up
that night they would have had the same
weapons. It would’ve been a bloodbath.
And because I was in the thick of it and
because I knew how both sides were thinking,
we were either going to see a lot of
Australians die (and when I say Australians I
mean both sides), or we can use a bit of our
pull and stop it.
Hold Down
Going to jail didn’t scare me. I wasn’t worried
about it. I’ve been in worse places than
jail I think. But I hated the thought of being
away from friends, family and my girl. There
was about 30 seconds of hell because the
first thing [the judge] said was, “Koby
Abberton, I am going to sentence you to
nine months in prison.” So there I am thinking,
all right, this is it, I’m going in and I’ll just
have to take it on. That 30 seconds felt like
an hour. Then the judge goes, “But I am
going to suspend that sentence.” I just
thought, fark, I’m out of jail! Then I was
thinking, after three years of mental torture I
can’t believe you still want to play with my
head! But I understood it. It’s their intention
to scare you and make you realize how
close you were to going inside.
Losing It All
It comes down to one thing: I come from
nothing, I can go back to nothing. I know
how to live without money and if I’ve got to
do that now then so be it. When I was a
young kid I pretty much lived on the street
with nothing. As long as I have something to
eat...which is sometimes hard at the
moment [laughs]. People were saying to me,
“You were making good money the last five
years,” and I’d say, “I don’t give a f---. It’s
only money. It’s only more money to spend
on drinking and partying.” Having none
might be good for me. I’ll be back bigger
and better than ever in no time. The things
we’re working on at the moment could
make us millions. The documentary’s going
really good. The footage we’ve got is ridiculous.
We’ve got video of brawls, 20 on 20 in
the backstreets of Maroubra, and everything
you’ve heard about and read about is on it.
A New Mate
Russell just rang me up. He said, “Koby, it’s
Russell Crowe here.” I thought it was one of
me mates and I told him to get f---ed and
hung up on him. He e-mailed me on the
computer and I wrote back, “Whoever this is,
stop f---ing around!” Then a young Bra Boy
kid who plays for Souths [South Sydney
Rabbitohs, the Australian rugby league team
that Crowe just bought for $3 million] goes,
“Brah, Russell’s been trying to contact you.” I
go, what! Then it all clicked and I went, shit.
Mate, he’s just like one of the boys. He’s
risking big money and his reputation hanging
out with us. He’s one of those people who
can walk into any conversation and be comfortable
with it. He can just deal with it. He
comes down to the pub with me on a Friday
and there’s 50 of the boys in there going
mad and he just sat there sucking
schooners with us, being one of the boys.
Over the Ledge
All the shit that’s gone down in the last few
years has just made me want to go harder.
It’s made me see that life is short. It’s made
me worry a lot more about the kids around
here. It’s made me realize how easily life can
change living in a place like this. I started the
Mavis Abberton Foundation [in memory of
Koby’s grandmother, who passed away last
year]. It’s for kids with heroin-addicted parents
and kids whose parents are in jail.
When I was a kid if it wasn’t for surfing I’d
be in jail for life. I know that now. In jail or
dead. So I just want to go out West and
around here and get kids to the beach and
show them that the beach lifestyle is a savior.
Maroubra Beach is a mum and dad to
thousands of kids.
When Jai got out, it was incredible. It’s what we’d dreamed of. The first surf back together with me and Jai and Sun was insane. Jai had just been found not guilty, and just to have each other free was insane. I still had charges against me, but Jai was free and that was all that mattered to me. And the brothers were back together. We were at Gnaraloo, and the first surf Jai had was at like 12- to 15-foot Gnaraloo. The first wave he gets is this big massive drop, and I’m just paddling over the wave yelling at him, “Go, you pussy!” He just paddles back out screaming his head off. We were laughing for days. It was an amazing feeling.
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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.
Sat Nov21, 2009, 7:39 PM
The Bra boys are simply fantastic!! and so "misunderstood"!&%$#.....just like Bikies, Skinheads, football yobbos and and the rest of the brain dead shit who are so tough when the odds are stacked firmly in their favour!.You supporters are SO misguided it's a frightening indictment on our education system and Australian thinking in general....was the Australia mentality always this fucked up or is this the effect of climate change warming the dormant organs we call brains????....p.s. the ability to spell is NOT a weakness!