Surfing dream team back together on the Gold Coast

One of surfing’s dream teams will reunite, Surf Scene writes.

WHEN Mark Occhilupo won his world title in 1999 Joel Parkinson had claimed his first WCT as a wildcard at Jeffreys Bay, South Africa.

As sponsored Billabong surfers, they travelled the world together competing and sharing waves.

Jack McCoy, who had an eye for talent, filmed both the world champions.

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Now all three good friends will combine for a talk story session this Friday night at Twin Towns.

Jack came to Australia in 1970 as a member of the Hawaiian team for the world titles at Johanna.

He was so infatuated with Australia he decided to call Down Under his new home and ingratiated himself with the local surf culture.

Regarded as one of the greatest goofyfooters ever Mark “Occy” Occhilupo will be at Twin Towns this Friday night with Joel Parkinson and movie-maker Jack McCoy. Photo Jack McCoy

Initially setting up a restaurant in Torquay where, among other things, there was the legendary eating competition between ‘Rabbit’ Bartholomew and Ian Cairns.

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Rabbit won by opting for grapes and rice, while ‘Kanga’, who loved his steaks, thought he could win as a carnivore but was no match for the wily vego.

Jack connected with Dick Hoole who had been to Bali with Victorian legend Wayne Lynch. Dick had taken an iconic water shot of Lynch at Uluwatu that sat proudly on the restaurant wall.

It became the catalyst for the collaboration of Hoole & McCoy movie-making partnership, producing instant hits with Tubular Swells and then Storm Riders.

When they parted ways amicably, Jack was assigned by Billabong owner Gordon Merchant to create a number of exciting projects: The Green Iguana, Billabong Challenge and the ‘Occumentary’ based on Occy’s remarkable comeback.

Joel Parkinson. Picture: WSL

The Desert Challenge at Gnarloo, North West of Wwestern Australia, pitted Kelly Slater, Rob Machado, Johnny Boy Gomes and Occy into a celebrity surf off.

McCoy followed up with a masterpiece, Blue Horizon, about the fierce title rivalry between Andy Irons and Kelly Slater and the alternate, non-competitive side of Dave “Rasta” Rastovich.

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Following that epic McCoy focused on a young Parkinson movie, Free As A Dog. Parkinson retired last year but has been busy and straight after Friday’s talk will take off on a family holiday.

“ We all go way back., “said the 2012 world champion.

“I can’t wait to get the Goldy tribe together and share with everyone the story behind the making of Free As A Dog. Always good fun to catch up and talk about the crazy days – it’s sure to be a good laugh.”

Occy, looking fitter than ever after his Easter victory against Tom Curren at Bells Beach, is pumped for the session with ‘Uncle Jack’ and his world tour travelling mate.

“It’s going to be a great night, catching up with old mates and sharing some stories that not many have heard before,” he said.

“I don’t want to give anything away but let’s just say a certain ‘beetle nut’ story might make its way into the mix! “