How did Mark Occhilupo’s lifestyle changes, specifically his commitment to a “clean life,” contribute to his continued success and enjoyment of surfing in his later career?
Forget the throne-the true measure of a surfing legend isn’t just the trophy cabinet, but the relentless fire that still burns long after the final heat. Take Mark Occhilupo, as a notable example. Most remember him for his ’99 world title, a comeback tale that still inspires. But what about the years as? Those spent riding the waves with a renewed zeal, not just reliving glory, but embracing the pure joy of surfing. This is the untold story, the heart of a man who turned his life around and continues to inspire with his commitment to the clean life. And the new Billabong collection? That just provides the perfect backdrop for the next chapter of the Raging Bull’s epic story. This is a testament to dedication, discipline, and the enduring power of a passion for the ocean.
Mark Occhilupo’s story often crescendos with his famed 1999 world title campaign,a comeback for the ages from couch potato to walking Australian surf icon at age 33. But Occy hasn’t stalled out in the glory days. He’s still perpetually stoked, an eternal grom forthing on new boards and good waves. And his surfing is all the better for it.
In conjunction with the release of its new Raging Bull CollectionBillabong, Occy’s benefactor for 40 years, dropped a video of recent footage of the Raging Bull himself. it’s only 11 minutes, but it shows what decades of relentless enthusiasm can do for a surfer. Occy still looks as pleasant in cuppy Bowls Beach as he does in roping Cloubreak pits.
Occy’s speed and raw energy sent him into the competitive stratosphere as a young man in the 1980s.But there is no nostalgia here. This is just clean, foundational surfing that we should all aspire to surf with in our fifth decade.
It wasn’t always this way for Occy. If you want to learn more about Occy,his humble beginnings,his failures and his triumphs,read sean doherty’s definitive profile of him here, published in SURFER’s 2015 Big Issue. It may take you half an hour to finish, but you’ll have a newfound recognition for the Raging Bull who was able to tone it down (just a little).
Below is a passage from Doherty’s story that demonstrates Occy’s commitment to living clean and getting back into the world. After stripping away the booze and the drugs and the drama, what remained was a guy who loved surfing and still does to this day.
The following year, occ went hard at qualifying. Any man who would wake up in the morning and bang out a thousand sit-ups before greeting the day is in the grip of something fierce. Occ had teamed up with Joel Fitzgerald, and the pair would travel together for most of the year. Occ ate salad, didn’t drink, didn’t party. Joel Fitz may not have had a competitive bone in his body, but he was calm, and above all he lived to surf. Occ would roll out of bed and start chipping away at his sit-ups, 50, 100 at a time. He threw squats and push-ups in between sets. Joel Fitz joined in, more for moral support than anything. “It took nearly two hours,” recalls Occ of his morning routine. It was discipline like he’d never known and the weight melted off him. He started to look like the guy off the Ab-buster commercial he used to watch on his couch at Kurnell while eating fried chicken. He started to look 18 again, which helped, as most of the guys he was surfing against now actually were 18. Occ qualified easily.
Related: Occy Through The Ages
Mark Occhilupo’s story often crescendos with his famed 1999 world title campaign, a comeback for the ages from couch potato to walking Australian surf icon at age 33. But Occy hasn’t stalled out in the glory days. He’s still perpetually stoked, an eternal grom forthing on new boards and good waves. And his surfing is all the better for it.
In conjunction with the release of its new Raging Bull CollectionBillabong, Occy’s benefactor for 40 years, dropped a video of recent footage of the Raging Bull himself. It’s only 11 minutes, but it shows what decades of relentless enthusiasm can do for a surfer. Occy still looks as comfortable in cuppy Bowls Beach as he does in roping Cloubreak pits.
Occy’s speed and raw energy sent him into the competitive stratosphere as a young man in the 1980s. But there is no nostalgia here. This is just clean, foundational surfing that we should all aspire to surf with in our fifth decade.
It wasn’t always this way for Occy. If you want to learn more about Occy, his humble beginnings, his failures and his triumphs, read Sean Doherty’s definitive profile of him here, published in SURFER’s 2015 Big Issue. It may take you half an hour to finish, but you’ll have a newfound appreciation for the Raging Bull who was able to tone it down (just a little).
Below is a passage from Doherty’s story that demonstrates Occy’s commitment to living clean and getting back into the world. After stripping away the booze and the drugs and the drama, what remained was a guy who loved surfing and still does to this day.
The following year, Occ went hard at qualifying. Any man who would wake up in the morning and bang out a thousand sit-ups before greeting the day is in the grip of something fierce. Occ had teamed up with Joel Fitzgerald, and the pair would travel together for most of the year. Occ ate salad, didn’t drink, didn’t party. Joel Fitz may not have had a competitive bone in his body, but he was calm, and above all he lived to surf. Occ would roll out of bed and start chipping away at his sit-ups, 50, 100 at a time. He threw squats and push-ups in between sets. Joel Fitz joined in, more for moral support than anything. “It took nearly two hours,” recalls Occ of his morning routine. It was discipline like he’d never known and the weight melted off him. He started to look like the guy off the Ab-Buster commercial he used to watch on his couch at Kurnell while eating fried chicken. He started to look 18 again, which helped, as most of the guys he was surfing against now actually were 18. Occ qualified easily.
Related: Occy Through The Ages
