The first ever World Wobble Board Championships were held at the Bassendean Town Fair in Western Australia in 2001 as part of their Centenary Celebrations.
The Championships have been sanctioned and supported by Rolf Harris (the boy from Bassendean) the inventor of the Wobble Board.

What's a wobble board and how do you make one?

Rolf Harris gives this answer on stage and during interviews.
"The first wobble board was made of 2 foot by 3 foot 1/10th inch thick hardboard, although they can be made slightly smaller. There is a slight indentation in the middle of each short side so the hands don't slip when playing. This needs to be as wide as the hand and about 1/4 inch deep. It is played, not by gripping the board with the fingers, but by propping it between the palms of the hands and bouncing it, accenting every second beat, or off beat, as it's called. If you haven't got a really good sense of rhythm, don't try to play one. I've found tempered hardboard works best, or more recently, MDF board, but it must be really thin, or it's too hard to bounce."

The first wobble board

The first wobble board was created by Rolf when he was trying to dry the background board for a painting. The painting was on hardboard and in an effort to dry the painting he used a heater to heat the hardboard and dry the base paint. As it was drying Rolf felt the board and it was so hot he burnt his finger. To prevent the board busting into flames Rolf picked up the board and held the board between his palms and wobbled it to cool it. Rolf kept the painting wobbleboard and it toured the world with him. This all happened in 1957. In 1960 the wobble sound was included on the record "Tie me Kangaroo down Sport" which became an instant international hit for Rolf. When the orginal wobbleboard began to crack Rolf replacd it with the "Stairway to heaven" board currently in use.
Rolf's Website

Rolf with the "Stairway to heaven wobbleboard

Rolf giving a video lesson to the Towns folk of Bassendean (October 2002)

Rolf standing by the original Wobbleboard which is framed ready for presention to the Magic Cirle.
The painting is of Robert Harbin a very famous magician and one of Rolf's mentors.

The World Championships

Rolf Harris provided the design for the perpetual trophies.
Whilst all the participants for the inaugural Championship were from Western Australia the audience included interstate and overseas visitors as well as a large media contingent.

There were two competitions Compared by Clive Abell, one for playing the wobble board and one for decorating the board.
The 2001 World Champion Wobble Board (Player) is Diane Barrett
The 2001 World Champion Wobble Board (Artistic decoration) is Terri Dunham.

We did it! November 2002

Megan leads the participants in the world record attempt.

The Guiness Book of Records has officially recognised our record attempt and we now hold the world record with the largest wobbleboard band of 230.

Our thanks to Carol Abell and Andrew Harvey for doing the count, and to the Circus who let us use the big top and to Megan Silva who was the facilitator with the Rolf Harris video and the successful world record attempt. Congratulations to the 230 who took part and now hold the record!. Also thanks to all the spectators who watched us do it! Perhaps next time you will join in and swell the numbers.

We challenge anyone in the world to beat this World record!

Links to information sites

Rolf Harris's Website

About Western Australia

The Town of Bassendean

Wobbleboards are on sale from the Bassendean Town Council, Please contact the Council, prices at time of posting this page was $5 each plus Postage and Packing charges.

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