Friday 3rd July (Jeffreys Bay – South Africa)  THE rivalry between Australian wunderkind Mark Occhilupo and California soul champion Tom Curren produced the most exciting competitive clashes in the history of surfing.  For the first decade of surfing’s ASP pro circuit Occy and Tommy dominated the world stage with their dueling performances.

In a major coup for surf fans world wide, this year at the Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay spectators can watch a LIVE webcast of these two superstars as they re-ignite their intense rivalry in the world’s best right hand point wave, going head to head for the first time in over two decades.

Each has won eight of their 16 previous encounters and the Clash of the Icons will provide yet another chapter in their 26 year rivalry.

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 Jeffreys,” 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.

“Tom was already schooling guys when I came on tour and he was in some serious form, no one could touch him,” said Occhilupo.  “I couldn’t get close to Tom, I had to scratch and work to get to that level.”

Their most memorable clashes were the Rip Curl Bells Pro semi that clinched Tommy’s first World Title in 1985/86 and the two Op Pro Finals in front of 100,000 people at Huntington Beach won by Occy later that year.

“I beat him at the OP Pro in Huntington twice in a row and the rivalry probably started there and then went to Bells and various heats around the world tour,” said Occhilupo.  “There were literally thousands of people on the pier and they were all shouting for Tom, I had to come out and upset the motion.”

“I only remember being in the zone,” said Curren.  “Occy was pulling out every trick, he had that little extra.”

“Both of us were pushing as hard as we could, but he won that one with a wave at the end, I just remember it was very tense and very tiring as well.”

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.

Both have been singled out for their amazing wave riding at J-Bay – Occy winning the inaugural version of the event in 1984 with a performance that redefined backhand surfing and going on to become one of the South African surfing Mecca’s favourite sons.  Curren’s Rincon inspired lines provides a unique insight on how to ride the legendary walls of Supertubes.

The pair have never met in a heat together at the fabled point. The 2009 Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay provides the opportunity for their most exciting match-up ever - a visual feast of Occy’s massive backhand blasts and Curren’s inventive flawlessness which earned them their reputations at J-Bay.

“All bets are off in J-Bay,” said Occhilupo.  “I don’t know what he has been up to, Tom has always been the mysto man but I’m pretty anxious and I am really anticipating the showdown quite a lot.  I have been training with Parko and training a lot on my own, so I’m going to be prepared for this.”

“If I am going to go toe to toe with Occy then it has to be a really big heat for me, for Occy, for both of us,” said Curren.  “When it comes down to it you just have to dig a little deeper….and hope that you have something there.”

“Anywhere Occy paddles out he has a good chance of winning – against anybody, so for me…it’s about training, I think if I train hard I can beat him in this event.”

Stay tuned to billabongpro.com from July 9-19 to witness one of surfing’s most historic duels ever at the planet’s premier high performance point break.

Mark Occhilupo vs. Tom Curren

Statistics

Total of 16 heats

Mark Occhilupo – 8 wins
1983, Semis, Marui World Surfing Pro, Herbara Beach, Japan
1983, Round 1, Beaurepaires Open, Cronulla, AUS
1984, Round 3, OP America Series, Jensen Bch, Florida
1984, Round 2, Gunston 500, Durban South Africa
1984, Round 2, Tutti Frutti Lacanau Pro, Lacanau, France
1985, Final, Op Pro HB, California, USA
1986, Semis, Op Pro HB, California, USA
1986, Final, BHP Steel International, Newcastle, AUS
 
Tom Curren – 8 wins
1984, Semis, Stubbies Surf Classic, Burleigh Heads, AUS
1985, Semis, BHP Steel International, Newcastle, AUS
1985, Semis, Billabong Pro, Sunset/Waimea, HAW
1985, Semis, Stubbies Surf Classic, Burleigh Heads, AUS
1985, Semis, Rip Curl Subaru Easter Classic, Bells, AUS
1986, Semis, Marui Japan Open, Habushi-Ura, Niijima, Japan
1987, Final, Stubbies US Pro, Oceanside, USA
1988, Semis, Marui Japan Open, Habushi-Ura, Niijima, Japan
 
Career Statistics

Mark Occhilupo – June 16, 1966
Total of 685 heats, 380 wins, 55% winning
22 finals, 12 wins, 55% winning
 
 Tom Curren – July 3, 1964
Total of 506 heats, 353 wins, 70% winning
45 finals, 33 wins, 73% winning

Billabong Freesurfer David Rastovich has been selected from more than 2000 Australasian applicants to be trained by former US Vice President Al Gore at The Climate Project - Australia Asia Pacific Summit (A-P Summit) in Melbourne in 11 - 13 July.

Building on the work of The Climate Project - Australia, the A-P Summit will bring together 300 people representing a diverse cross section of industry, advocacy and broad social groupings from Australasia and the Asia Pacific region. Mr Gore and a panel of international experts will provide the training hosted by the Australian Conservation Foundation.

Rastovich will have the chance to help focus and re-invigorate the Asia Pacific’s regional response to climate change in the lead into the critical UNCCC Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in December 2009.

It’s a big opportunity for the passionate environmentalist, who was selected based on his work protecting the marine environment and the foundation of his own organisation Surfers For Cetaceans.

“I think anyone passionate about protecting the environment and the issue of Climate Change would jump at the chance to listen to and learn from Al Gore,” said Rastovich.  “Part of attending this summit is to become an advocate for climate change and to pass on the messages through my own activities.”

“I feel Climate Change plays a large part in the issues I’m passionate about, especially the protection of marine mammals such as Whales and Dolphins.”

“The A-P Summit has a specific focus on the unique window of time to act on climate change. Together A-P Summit delegates will inspire people from the region to make a difference at global level,” said Angela Rutter, Manager of The Climate Project ‑ Australia.

One in seventy five Australians have now seen a presentation delivered by one of the 250 Al Gore trained Climate Project presenters working throughout communities in Australia.

Adriano de Souza (BRA), 22, former ASP World Junior Champion (2004) and current ASP World No. 5, was in solid form today and will look to bring home a title to Brazil at the Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro. Photo: ASP/ CI/ CESTARI via GETTY IMAGES

Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro

Stop No. 4 of 10 on the 2009 ASP World Tour

Imbituba, Santa Catarina, Brazil

June 27 – July 5, 2009

IMBITUBA, Santa Catarina (Thursday, July 2, 2009) – Challenging three-to-four foot (1.5 metre) waves pulsed through the main site at Praia Vila today as the Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro completed Round 3 of competition, narrowing the remaining field down to the final 16 surfers. 

Stop No. 4 of 10 on the 2009 ASP World Tour, the Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro saw the ASP’s top seeds take command during Round 3, with seven of the current ASP Top 10 advancing through to Round 4.

 

Adriano de Souza (BRA), 22, former ASP World Junior Champion (2004) and current ASP World No. 5, was in sensational form this morning, navigating the pulsing lefthanders with ease to net the highest heat total of the day, a 16.20 out of a possible 20.

 

“The surf is still pretty difficult but there are good lefts coming through and I was able to find two high-scoring ones,” De Souza said. “Greg (Emslie) is such a dangerous competitor and is capable of getting really good scores. I knew I would have to surf at my highest level. My equipment feels good and I am feeling much more confident after getting through that last round.”

 

With the advancement into Round 4 of the Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro, De Souza has already netted his best finish in six seasons of competing in Brazil (first as a wildcard, then as an ASP World Tour competitor). With today’s eliminations of countrymen Heitor Alves (BRA), 27, and Neco Padaratz (BRA), the young natural-footer is the sole remaining Brazilian left in competition.

 

“I feel like a huge weight has been lifted and almost feel like I won the contest,” De Souza said. “I was very nervous before that heat and felt like I had a big rock mentally preventing me from getting past that round. Now that I’m through, I feel like I can get a big result here. I am sad that Heitor (Alves) has been eliminated – he is such a good surfer and needed a result here. Hopefully I can keep going and get a big result for Brazil.”

 

De Souza will face Jeremy Flores (FRA), 21, in Round 4 when competition resumes.

 

Kelly Slater (USA), 37, reigning nine-time ASP World Champion, continued to experiment with equipment in his Round 3 victory over Ben Dunn (AUS), 23, today. Having stretched the boundaries on competitive surfboards for the last several months, including his Round 2 victory on a self-shaped, asymmetrical quad-fin, the Floridian’s equipment has been a central topic of much-heated debate within the surfing world.

 

“I seem to be riding a new board every time I go for a surf,” Slater said. “This one I just rode was an epoxy swallow-tail and seemed to go really well in these conditions. I’ve spent the lay days hanging with some friends here in Brazil and having a few fun surfs around town. I’ve pretty much just been cruising and testing out some equipment.”

 

After suffering three, uncharacteristic equal 17^th place finishes thus far in 2009 (his worst competitive run since becoming an ASP World Tour competitor), Slater now finds himself with a current ASP World No. 25 rating and a mountain of challenges between him and an unprecedented 10^th ASP World Title this season.

 

“I obviously haven’t had the results I desired this season so a lot has to happen for me to even be in the running for the world title,” Slater said. “But I guess that takes the pressure off for me at these events. I go into heats and I’m more looking to play the spoiler than net a result myself. I’m stoked to be getting through heats though. This is my best result of the year already and we’ll see what happens tomorrow.”

 

Slater will face current ASP World No. 8 Tom Whitaker (AUS), 29, in Round 4 when Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro competition resumes.

 

Bede Durbidge (AUS), 26, defending Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro winner and current ASP World No. 14, survived a hotly contested Round 3 bout with ASP Dream Tour rookie Michel Bourez (PYF), 23.

 

“Conditions were pretty tough out there and Michel (Bourez) started out pretty strong before I was able to put some scores up,” Durbidge said. “He got me last year in France so it was good to get another one back on him. He’s such a strong competitor and really dangerous is most conditions. I feel like I’m surfing well though and hopefully I can put together a solid result here in Brazil and get a bit of momentum going in my season.”

 

C.J. Hobgood (USA), 29, former ASP World Champion (2001) and current ASP World No. 4, punctuated the afternoon’s competition with the highest single-wave score of the day, a 9.17 out of a possible 10, for a series of fully-committed forehand power gaffs on a roping lefthander.

 

“Michael (Picon) always does well here and I wanted to make sure I got the first wave on him,” Hobgood said. “The last time we surfed against one another was in Indonesia and he got the first wave on me and that won the heat for him. So getting the first wave was my strategy heading into the heat and it paid off. The wave really stood up and allowed me to get a bunch of turns in. There are still good waves out there and this is probably the most contestable I’ve ever seen Praia Vila. Hopefully the waves stay good tomorrow.”

 

When Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro competition recommences, first up will be defending Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro winner Bede Durbidge (AUS), 26, up against another past winner in Brazil (2005) Damien Hobgood (USA), 29, in Heat 1 of Round 4.

 

Event organizers will reconvene tomorrow morning at 7am for a possible 7:30am start to the (potentially) final day of the Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro.

 

Highlights from today’s Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro will be available via www.aspworldtour.com

 

For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com

 

HANG LOOSE SANTA CATARINA PRO ROUND 3 RESULTS:

Heat 1: Bede Durbidge (AUS) 12.83 def. Michel Bourez (PYF) 11.83

Heat 2: Damien Hobgood (USA) 12.00 def. Heitor Alves (BRA) 4.50

Heat 3: Jeremy Flores (FRA) 13.67 def. Tim Boal (FRA) 12.53

Heat 4: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 16.20 def. Greg Emslie (ZAF) 13.87

Heat 5: Bobby Martinez (USA) 11.00 def. Tiago Pires (PRT) 7.10

Heat 6: Dustin Barca (HAW) 13.07 def. Jordy Smith (ZAF) 10.33

Heat 7: Kekoa Bacalso (HAW) 13.40 def. Dean Morrison (AUS) 10.74

Heat 8: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 15.17 def. Neco Padaratz (BRA) 14.67

Heat 9: Taj Burrow (AUS) 14.24 def. Nathaniel Curran (USA) 12.16

Heat 10: Tim Reyes (USA) 14.50 def. Dayyan Neve (AUS) 12.07

Heat 11: Kelly Slater (USA) 15.53 def. Ben Dunn (AUS) 10.46

Heat 12: Tom Whitaker (AUS) 11.50 def. Chris Davidson (AUS) 7.00

Heat 13: C.J. Hobgood (USA) 16.17 def. Michael Picon (FRA) 9.24

Heat 14: Mick Campbell (AUS) 14.90 def. Josh Kerr (AUS) 11.10

Heat 15: Mick Fanning (AUS) 11.00 def. Roy Powers (HAW) 3.87

Heat 16: Chris Ward (USA) 13.50 def. Taylor Knox (USA) 10.86

 

HANG LOOSE SANTA CATARINA PRO ROUND 4 MATCH-UPS:

Heat 1: Bede Durbidge (AUS) vs. Damien Hobgood (USA)

Heat 2: Jeremy Flores (FRA) vs. Adriano de Souza (BRA)

Heat 3: Bobby Martinez (USA) vs. Dustin Barca (HAW)

Heat 4: Kekoa Bacalso (HAW) vs. Joel Parkinson (AUS)

Heat 5: Taj Burrow (AUS) vs. Tim Reyes (USA)

Heat 6: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Tom Whitaker (AUS)

Heat 7: C.J. Hobgood (USA) vs. Mick Campbell (AUS)

Heat 8: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Chris Ward (USA

 

No Mans around 1530 on Tues 30 June 2009

Hi all,

For those of you who got out at No Mans on Tuesday afternoon from around 215 to 355 pm, I got some pics. Like 300 of ‘em.

If you got a wave, chances are I got a snap. Anyway, I’m calling the conditions 7-8 out of 10, so even if you weren’t there, you might want to check it out by heading over to the page on my blog here.

Trudy Croad and Phil Jarratt (kneeling) hand over the loot to festival beneficiaries Keren Ruki (SurfAid International), Cynthia Hunter (Red Cross) and Moy Sweetman (Frangipani Dreams). Photo Jason McCallum.

The 2009 Global Surf Industries Noosa Festival of Surfing, presented by Golden Breed, raised almost $19,500 to split between three beneficiary charities – Surf Aid, the Red Cross Victorian Bushfire Appeal and Frangipani Dreams.

At a hand-over of the donations in Noosa yesterday, Festival director Phil Jarratt and sponsorship manager Trudy Croad thanked major sponsor Global Surf Industries for the donation of 35 surfboards, and the artists from around Australia who donated their time and talent to create works of art from them. Jarratt said the silent auction of art surfboards had contributed more than $11,000, while the world champions teams auction had raised a further $7,500, and a Red Cross bucket appeal during a free concert had raised $800 cash.

“So many people contributed to this in so many ways,” Jarratt said. “Artists, musicians, sporting champions, surf companies, volunteers…the list is endless. But the main contribution came from everyone who participated in the Noosa Festival of Surfing in a spirit of generosity. With more than 500 competitors it’s the biggest surfing event in the world, but it’s also the happiest. The people who come to our event year after year know how lucky they are to be surfers, and they want to give back.”

Jarratt said major sponsors Global Surf Industries and Golden Breed had already committed to the 2010 festival, to be held March 14-21, and a full event program would be released during July. The festival website will be live and accepting entries from August 1.