Billabong Occ Stock & Barrels

Surfing New South Wales
Cronulla NSW, Australia
20 - 21 November 2009

Scott Steals the day from ‘Occy’ at the Billabong Occ, Stock and Barrels

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 22 November, 2009 : - - Cronulla, NSW -- It was all about the next generation of surfers today at Cronulla as the beachside suburb’s favourite surfing son, Mark ‘Occy’ Occhilupo, donned a contest singlet to take on the division winners of his own signature junior surfing contest – Occ, Stock and barrels.

In stifling 40 degree heat and in very small 0.5m waves, Occhilupo faced a big challenge taking on the light-footed trio of Jake Scott (Malabar), Veronica Charles (Cronulla) and Jarrod Szele (Warilla), who had all gained the chance to surf against the 1999 ASP World Champion in the Occy Grand Final by earlier winning their respective divisions.

With waves few and far between at a packed North Cronulla Beach, wave selection and a little bit of luck were critical factors in the ‘Occy Grand Final’ and it was Veronica Charles who opened a narrow lead early over her more fancied opponents.

However her lead was shortly overtaken by Jake Scott who was awarded an 8.0 for a flurry of smooth turns on a rare set wave. Scott then backed this up with a 4.83 to move into a near unbeatable position.

Unfortunately for Occhilupo, the waves didn’t cooperate and he was unable to get any real momentum going in the Final. This however, didn’t seem to bother the surfing legend, who was more focused on being out there for his fellow competitors and even shared his final wave with Scott, who eventually held onto his lead to take out the Occy Grand Final.

Jake Scott : photo  Wes Lonergan/Surfing NSW

“It is an honour to be here in my old hometown surfing with the next generation,” said a satisfied Occhilupo after the Grand Final. “To have the opportunity to give something back to a sport that has given me so much joy for so many years is great and to do it here in Cronulla makes it so special.”

“While conditions were pretty tough out there for me, it was great to surf against all three of the division winners and to see how well they surfed in waves that small is very impressive,” continued Occy. “The future of Australian surfing is definitely looking bright and it’s great to have some much talent coming from the southern Sydney area.”

For Scott, winning the Occy Grand Final was the icing on the cake on what was a very successful day for the young natural footer, who had earlier won a tough Under 16 Boys Final against Adam Perica (Bronte) and Cronulla pair Jesse Horner and Chris Robertson.

“I’m so happy to have surfed a heat against ‘Occy’, said Scott. “He is a surfing legend and to not only have the opportunity to surf a heat against him, but to actually beat him is incredible – I will remember this day for the rest of my life!...It was such a great comp and I stoked with my result,” continued Scott.

Finishing behind Scott in the Under 16s Final was Perica in second, Horner in third and Robertson in Fourth.

The under 16 Girls division was won by Cronulla surfer Veronica Charles who overcame runner-up Rachel Campbell (Stanwell Park), with April Charles (Cronulla) third and Amelia Croucher (Cronulla) in fourth. The Under 13 Boys division was taken out by a dominant Jarrod Szele (Warilla) with Harrison Martin (Cronulla) in second, Jackson Giles (Matraville) in third and older brother Joshua Szele (Warilla) in fourth.

The next event on Billabong’s calendar is the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships, which will take place at North Narrabeen from 9-17 January, 2010 and will see the world’s best male and female surfers aged 20 and under do battle for an ASP World Junior Title. The Billabong Occ Stock and Barrels is proudly supported by Sony, VW, Honda Aquatrax, Sutherland Shire Council and Surfing NSW.

OCCY GRAND FINAL
1st – Jake Scott (Malabar)
2nd – Jarrod Szele (Warilla)
3rd – Veronica Charles (Cronula)
4th – Mark ‘Occy’ Occhilupo (

Under 16 Boys
1st – Jake Scott (Malabar)
2nd – Adam Perica (Bronte)
3rd –Jesse Horner (Cronulla)
4th – Chris Robertson (Cronulla)

Under 16 Girls
1st – Veronica Charles (Cronulla)
2nd – Rachel Campbell (Stanwell Park)
3rd –April Charles (Cronulla)
4th –  Amelia Croucher (Cronulla)

Under 13 Boys
1st – Jarrod Szele (Warilla)
2nd – Harrison Martin (Cronulla)
3rd – Jackson Giles (Matraville)
4th – Joshua Szele (Warilla)

Previous reports:
# 1 : Billabong Occ Stock & Barrels contest sights on Cronulla
# 2 : Young guns fire at the Billabong Occ Stock and Barrels  

www.billabong.com.au

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Simon Barratt
Billabong Communications Manager
sbarratt@billabong.com.au

Peter Hunt
Surfing NSW On-Site Event Contact
peterh@surfingnsw.com.au

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