July 21, 1984 was a day that goes down in surfing history.
The JBay Open Country Feeling JBay Surf Classic was held at Supertubes, Jeffrey's bay, East Cape, South Africa, on the newly formed ASP (WSL) World Tour.
Mark Occhilupo, an 18yearold from Cronulla, NSW, won the event unleashing a backside attack that changed the game on tour and around the world.
His coach at the time, Derek Hynd exclaimed: "Those there to witness it left with the impression they weren’t just watching the best surfing ever—they were witnessing the best surfing that might ever be. In my notebook, I had to invent new codes for what he was doing.”
Occy sported his nowiconic pink, and blue shortsleeved Peak, was riding riding a thick, boxy, low rocker Rusty thruster, and was only a few weeks from stating his infamous quote, "“Now I want to get real and stop these American wankers”," in Australia's Tracks Magazine.
The mid1980s was a time of a clash in generations on tour with Curren and Occy leading the new guard. Lifelong great sporting rivalries were being born amongst future world champs and the l
level of surfing on tour was being transformed forever.

Music:
Lime Spiders
INXS

video by @tonyrobertsphoto

Sources:
Cronulla Surf Museum
Jim Hayes
Ian Fitzpatrick

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