Occy and Curren rivalry produced some of the most exciting competitive clashes in surfing
Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 26 March, 2010 : - - It’s the 1986 rematch the world has been waiting for. A true Clash of the Icons will be on the ultimate stage for the world to see March 30-April 10 at the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach. California style guru Tom Curren vs. Australian surf hero Mark Occhilupo. One heat. Two legends. Three reasons to be at Bells Beach this Easter.
The rivalry between Occy and Curren produced the most exciting competitive clashes in the history of surfing. Their 1986 heat at Bells Beach is critically considered the best heat ever surfed in pro surfing.
During the 1980's no rivalry was more heralded than the Tom Curren/Mark Occhilupo challenge. Whenever the two surfers came up against each other in heats, sparks flew, temperatures rose and onlookers gathered to witness unmatched and historic wave-riding duels.
"I saw Occy before he became a household name, when he was first breaking out, it was at Jeffrey’s," said Curren. "He had so much energy, just pushing every turn with so much speed and power. I watched his footage over and over and seeing him for the first time I remember thinking his anticipation going into every turn was something great; something amazing."
Occy - amped, animated, and outspoken - was a young Aussie mischief-maker and a powerhouse hell-competitor beloved by everyone. Curren - enigmatic, humble, and deceptively understated - was a precise but devastatingly savage contest opponent idolized globally.
"I first saw Tom surf when I was really young in Cronulla, it was at Wanda Beach," said Occhilupo. "He was staying at Jim Banks' house, I walked over the hill to the beach after school and it was like solid 6-8ft and he was the only one out. I think he won the Beaurepaires that year and the first time I saw him he was at his peak, he was just ruling."
No matter where the event was held or who else was in it - there were always two camps, the Occy troop and the Curren crew. It was goofy vs. natural, radical power gouges vs. the sublime style-master, Australia vs. America.
Curren went on to win 353 heats, 33 events and three World Titles while Occy won 380 heats, 12 events and one World Title. Both featured in spectacular comebacks - Tom returning from a two year hiatus to clinch his third crown from the trials in 1990 while Occy's well documented rise to the 1999 crown after a decade in the wilderness is one of the greatest feats in sporting history.
The Billabong Pro Jeffrey’s Bay held Round 1 of the Occy vs. Curren "Clash of the Icons" in South Africa last year, where they split the 2 heats with one win a piece, and we're putting the duo back in the water and on the webcast again this year at Bells to settle the score.
If you see a good surfing wave, just shoot a free panorama or a 360 to share it with other surfers. It is easy and fun with pixeet and its fisheye lens.
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