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O'Connell happy with decision to step down

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 11 May, 2005 : - - In a field that included at least a dozen of the world's top surfers, Laguna Niguel's Pat O'Connell ---- who hadn't surfed a competitive heat in over four months ---- charged through six heats to finish second in the Body Glove Surfabout at Lower Trestles, San Clemente. O'Connell, who will turn 34 in September, delivered a consistent and impressive performance in quality 4- to 6-foot surf.

It was clear O'Connell could not only still compete, but compete at an extremely high level. The question then arose: Why did he decide to voluntarily retire last December from the ASP World Championship Tour ---- the most cherished surfing grounds for every pro surfer?
O'Connell completed his 14th pro season last December. He had four career victories, including the Figueira Pro (1995), the O'Neil Buondi Pro (1999), and the Op Pro Oceanside and O'Neil Surf Challenge (both in 2001). He earned his highest career ranking when he finished 11th overall in 1998.

Still ripping in his 30s, O'Connell reached the semifinals on the WCT at Snapper Rocks in 2002 and Bell's Beach just last year. O'Connell still had the ability to take down any pro surfer on a given day. He requalified for this year's tour with a good performance at the season-ending Pipe Masters, but suddenly decided to cash in his chips.

"The last couple of years, for one reason or another, I had become unhappy on the pro tour," said O'Connell. "It's the greatest lifestyle and an awesome opportunity, but as you get older certain things became more important to you."

Coming from a good family, O'Connell had taken his own first step down that road when he got married to his wife, Jennifer, three years ago. When they first started dating eight years ago, she traveled with him quite a bit. But as the years passed, she began staying home more and more. After they were married, she got a full-time job with Billabong.

"I realized that being on the road and staying in a hotel room for eight months of the year wasn't that appealing to me anymore," said O'Connell. "I didn't want to spend my time that way anymore. The last year I kind of felt like I was just taking up space on the tour. "As much fun as there was, there was also a lot of frustration and heartache. I felt like I was missing out on a lot of things in life. I knew I wanted to have a family, and I wanted to be at home. After re-qualifying at Pipe, I decided to leave on my own terms."

The WCT won't be the same with Pat O'Connell now retired. He would definitely be a candidate for the "Happiest Surfer on Earth." He brings a smile and respectful, upbeat attitude wherever he goes.

It was no surprise when legendary filmmaker Bruce Brown chose O'Connell for one of the two starring roles when he filmed "Endless Summer II." All he had to do for Brown was portray himself ---- a happy, fun-loving, full-of-life surfer chasing great waves around the world. He played the roll perfectly.

O'Connell's worst memory on the world tour? Last year, after waiting 10 days in France due to lack of surf, he went out in a heat with marginal 1- to 3-foot surf in sloppy conditions. He waited 27 minutes in a 30-minute heat before he paddled into his first wave. After he lost, he said to himself, "What was I doing out there? I knew at that moment my run on the tour was done."

His best moment came in the first round of the 2001 Pipe Masters. O'Connell drew six-time world champion Kelly Slater of Florida and Hawaii's Shane Dorian, both Pipeline legends. Everyone just assumed O'Connell, not known for his big-wave prowess, would finish last.

O'Connell picked off a couple of waves and had two scores in the sevens. As the heat wore down, a perfect Backdoor wedge came through the lineup. "I had to hassle Kelly to get the wave, and he gave me the stink eye when I took off," recalled O'Connell. "When I dropped in, I knew it was a good one. I pulled into a huge barrel and got blown out the end. It was just an amazing feeling and I heard everyone screaming from the beach.

"Back out at the lineup they asked me how good it was, and I just kind of smiled. A couple of seconds later, the announcer came on and said, 'O'Connell's last wave scored a perfect 10.' The beach erupted. With just a couple of minutes left, Kelly and Shane knew they were battling for second. That was the sweetest moment of my pro career."


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