Battle of the titans. Photos: (L) Sparkes/(R) ASP/Robertsom
Two of my favorite surfers are Tom Curren and Mark Occhilupo. I have a thing for good old fashioned power surfing, I guess. While I can appreciate how difficult aerials are and their importance in the way that surfing – both contest and free – is moving, there’s just something more visceral to me in a long, drawn out powerful, carve on a perfect, clean open face than a few quick pumps followed by a jerky, desperate air. But I can’t do either of them very well, so I’m only speaking from a viewer’s perspective. Also, Mark Occhilipo was in North Shore, which, to me at least, is almost cooler than his surfing. How ridiculous is that?
But check this out: the Association of Surfing Professionals is running something called the Heritage Series. It’s happening in conjunction with the J-Bay Open, and it’s going to be awesome. Part of J-Bay’s allure is its ability to tear away anything that might hide a surfer’s flaws – the long, fast open walls are a perfect canvas to showcase both perfection and imperfection. It favors men like Curren and Occy; men that have had historically powerful performances on waves where speed and strength are as much a necessity to simply complete the wave as they are in the judging booth.
The first installment of the Heritage series has a window that extends from July 12th to the end of the J-Bay Open. Its aim is to honor the people who helped build the foundation of surfing by setting up rematches for the most iconic surfers in the most iconic venues – and Tom Curren, Mark Occhilupo, and J-Bay couldn’t be a more perfect threesome.
Watch the webcast LIVE on aspworldtour.com.
