Marco Jay Luciano "Mark" Occhilupo (born 16 June 1966) is an Australian surfer and winner of the 1999 World surfing champion title.
Occhilupo, also known as Occy, began his professional career in the World Championship Tour (WCT) at the age of 17.
Occhilupo was born on 16 June 1966 in Kurnell, New South Wales, where he began surfing at the age of nine. He soon progressed to neighboring Cronulla.
He won his first amateur Schoolboys contest at 13 a...
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Marco Jay Luciano "Mark" Occhilupo (born 16 June 1966) is an Australian surfer and winner of the 1999 World surfing champion title.
Occhilupo, also known as Occy, began his professional career in the World Championship Tour (WCT) at the age of 17.
Occhilupo was born on 16 June 1966 in Kurnell, New South Wales, where he began surfing at the age of nine. He soon progressed to neighboring Cronulla.
He won his first amateur Schoolboys contest at 13 and followed up with two Cadet State Titles. After the 10th grade, he left home as an ASP trialist. Virtually unnoticed, he snuck into the Top 16 at year’s end, securing a seed for the following year.
In 1984, Occy shot to the top of the ASP ratings as a cocky 17-year-old and set performance standards over the next few years that still haven’t been matched. At Jeffreys Bay, his power and aggression turned backhand surfing into an advantage.
Even in America, where Tom Curren had become somewhat of a surfing deity, Occy was adored. In surfing’s...
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