Occy’s Surfing In 2005 Was Better Than Any Backhander Can Do Today

A couple months back, Stab released a poll about which surfer in modern history had the best backside of them all.

In said poll, Sir Andy Irons placed first with 37% of votes, Dane Reynolds slipped into second with 22%, and Mark Occhilupo fell a distant third with 15%.

We can’t help but feel Occy got a little shafted here, because gee fucking whiz was he ever an animal on the backhand.  

Acting as current proof is the video above, featuring a 2005 J-Bay heat between Occ and Bruce Irons. While Bruce opts for the barrel and sprinkles the lip with a few light-footed carves, Occy buries his rail in the heart of the beast, carving impossible lines off the top of and bottom, laying back into the tube, high-lining with impeccable style, and eventually hooking his giant board 180-degrees in the pocket. 

Could any of the current world’s best surf like this today? Maybe, but they sure don’t. 

Also, if Occy didn’t win this heat we demand a recount. Sorry BI.