Yallingup, Western Australia — Western Australian based surf accessory company Creatures of Leisure, are pleased to announce a resolution of the recently reported dispute between Taj’s management company, and themselves. Taj will continue to ride for Creatures of Leisure until at least 2010 which marks the expiry date of the most recent 4 year agreement between the two parties.

Creatures of Leisure has sponsored Taj for the past 16 years which encompasses his entire professional career, partnering with him since he was 14. In May 2009 Taj’s management company, TB Endorsements, issued a statement that it would no longer perform its sponsorship obligations for the final 10 month period of the existing sponsorship agreement with Creatures of Leisure.

“It appears that there was pressure being brought to bear on Taj and his management by a third party”, a Creatures spokesperson stated. “We would have been willing to work with Taj’s management if possible to facilitate an early release, however there were no surfers of a similar caliber available, the Creatures International catalogue had already been distributed and there were tens of thousands of Taj’s signature grips in stock, in production and on the water to over 20 distributors around the world – it was simply not commercially possible to release Taj from his contractual obligations at such short notice.”

“The decision to hold Taj’s management company to the contract, which is now legally binding, was necessary for reasons we believe they were unaware of.” “It was unfortunate the way in which the issue was initially reported in the media, suggesting that Creatures was suing Taj directly for not having a logo or similar on his board – that was totally incorrect.”

www.creatures.com.au

Jeffreys Bay — The rivalry between Australian wunderkind Mark Occhilupo and California soul champion Tom Curren produced the most exciting competitive clashes in the history of surfing.  For the first decade of surfing’s ASP pro circuit Occy and Tommy dominated the world stage with their dueling performances.

In a major coup for surf fans world wide, this year at the Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay spectators can watch a LIVE webcast of these two superstars as they re-ignite their intense rivalry in the world’s best right hand point wave, going head to head for the first time in over two decades. Each has won eight of their 16 previous encounters and the Clash of the Icons will provide yet another chapter in their 26 year rivalry.

During the 1980’s no rivalry was more heralded than the Tom Curren/Mark Occhilupo challenge. Whenever the two surfers came up against each other in heats, sparks flew, temperatures rose and onlookers gathered to witness unmatched and historic wave-riding duels.

“I saw Occy before he became a household name, when he was first breaking out, it was at Jeffreys,” said Curren.  “He had so much energy, just pushing every turn with so much speed and power… I watched his footage over and over and seeing him for the first time I remember thinking his anticipation going into every turn was something great; something amazing.”

Occy – amped, animated, and outspoken – was a young Aussie mischief-maker and a powerhouse hell-competitor beloved by everyone. Curren – enigmatic, humble, and deceptively understated – was a precise but devastatingly savage contest opponent idolized globally.

“I first saw Tom surf when I was really young in Cronulla, it was at Wanda Beach,” said Occhilupo.  “He was staying at Jim Banks’ house, I walked over the hill to the beach after school and it was like solid 6-8ft and he was the only one out.” “I think he won the Beaurepaires that year and the first time I saw him he was at his peak, he was just ruling.”

No matter where the event was held or who else was in it – there were always two camps, the Occy troop and the Curren crew. It was goofy vs. natural, radical power gouges vs. the sublime style-master, Australia vs. America.

Mark Occhilupo vs. Tom Curren Statistics Total of 16 heats

Mark Occhilupo – 8 wins
1983, Semis, Marui World Surfing Pro, Herbara Beach, Japan
1983, Round 1, Beaurepaires Open, Cronulla, AUS
1984, Round 3, OP America Series, Jensen Bch, Florida
1984, Round 2, Gunston 500, Durban South Africa
1984, Round 2, Tutti Frutti Lacanau Pro, Lacanau, France
1985, Final, Op Pro HB, California, USA
1986, Semis, Op Pro HB, California, USA
1986, Final, BHP Steel International, Newcastle, AUS

Tom Curren – 8 wins
1984, Semis, Stubbies Surf Classic, Burleigh Heads, AUS
1985, Semis, BHP Steel International, Newcastle, AUS
1985, Semis, Billabong Pro, Sunset/Waimea, HAW
1985, Semis, Stubbies Surf Classic, Burleigh Heads, AUS
1985, Semis, Rip Curl Subaru Easter Classic, Bells, AUS
1986, Semis, Marui Japan Open, Habushi-Ura, Niijima, Japan
1987, Final, Stubbies US Pro, Oceanside, USA
1988, Semis, Marui Japan Open, Habushi-Ura, Niijima, Japan

Career Statistics

Mark Occhilupo – June 16, 1966
Total of 685 heats, 380 wins, 55% winning
22 finals, 12 wins, 55% winning

Tom Curren – July 3, 1964
Total of 506 heats, 353 wins, 70% winning
45 finals, 33 wins, 73% winning

read more at surfervillage

SAN DIEGO, CA — My Local Lineup, an action sports media company based in San Diego, has launched a new TV show all about surfing for all of San Diego County. My Local Lineup TV airs new episodes Mondays at 7:00pm and reruns Mondays through Fridays at 12:00am on iTV channel 16, Time Warner and Cox Cable. Following the My Local Lineup trademark, each show is committed to an all-inclusive and locally oriented approach, aiming at a portrayal of surfing that intimately resembles surf communities and covers everything from contests and industry to lifestyle and more. In that vein, My Local Lineup TV presents four shows: Top Turns, Drawing the Line, Caught Inside, and My Local Lineup 360.

read full story at mylocallineup.com