Occy Versus Curren: the rematch

The eighties was an awkward time for pro surfing. The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) was just spreading its wings and beginning to gain real sponsorship and exposure, but contest locations were essentially reform beach breaks that left surfers hopping and humping three waves to the beach for a win. It was all rather sad. Only one thing could save professional surfing from dying of boredom: a rivalry...a real rivalry. We're talking a rivalry that would split surfers down the center between goofy footers and regular footers; stylists and aggros; Americans and Australians; I'm not sure but I'll be one was a Democrat and the other Republican. Of course, I am referring to Occy versus Curren.

Mark Ochilupo was the brash, blond goofy with a lead-heavy back foot and talent for moving 100 MPH at full-rail. Tom Curren was the silky soul man recluse who seemed to channel the smooth stylings of surfing's past while at the same time pushing an entire generation to a whole new level. That said, it's been several decades. Curren went AWOL and mapped out Indonesia and beyond on free-surf boat trips with a guitar in hand while Occy fell off the face of the Earth, got involved with the dark side, got it all back together and absolutely slayed all the comp to win his first world title.

Here we are with Occy and Curren scheduled to meet in a special event as part of the Billabong Pro at Jeffery's Bay. Will it be a barn burner or a fizzler? I don't know about you guys, but I'm tuning in to the clash of the icons.