Wide World of Sports presents Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach. Occy and BL go down in the semis, Tom Carroll v Tom Curren in the final. This camera angle highlights Curren's sublime style.
The top to bottom combos as seen here, are still the hallmark of power surfing and while it had definetly evolved and progressed to become the mainstay of any decent surfer's repertoire, this was an epic contest that owns it's place in the legend of the Bells Contest. To see 3 of the best goofyfooter's of the era and of all time is testimony to true power - surfing. Mick Fanning is one of modern day exponents of this kind of surfing and Occy still shines as bright as ever at places like Bells and J - Bay. Aerial surfing can and will wow the judging and spectators, but the bottom - turn setting up for the big shralps off the top are just way classy and just a beautiful thing to see and do.
Interesting how the final was not the most talked-about moment in this event, but the semi-final between Occy & Curren has become one of the most greatest ever heats in surfing history.
It's completely obvious who Kelly got his style from. Tom has the key ingredients for good style. Speed, Power, Flow 🤙🏼 Sweet video, thanks for posting
I love watching these guys surf. These surfers like Tom Curren and Cheyne Horan especially were like super heroes to me in the 80's. There's no surfing with style like this anymore.
I've never heard horan & style mentioned favorably in the same sentence before. i'm hoping that a return to the 80's day-glow wetsuits will turn todays flicky waifs into yesteryears rail-laying, spray-throwing, coke-snorting behemoths.
@@motoz30 Yeah his style was seriously off compared to the average in his day. What a time though for surfing and living. The 80's were a time where everything it seems was bigger and brighter. I used to think after watching video of Cheyne Horan surfing, How much more advanced can a guy on a surfboard get I thought cheyne had pushed the boundaries to the limit. I was wrong about that and now after watching these guys fly around from wave after wave I am asking the same question, How much further can it go? I look forward to seeing what happens in the next 5 to 10 years with surfing.
Classic real fluid power of the 1980s versus this choppy little boy air of 2010s, unmistakable, especially when freestyle ridding was done, minus the competition circuit and commercialism which got us here in our present situation .
Even though three fin boards were the norm by 1986 ( I went from twin fin to a thruster about 82 I think) the surfing still looks stilted by today’s standards. Just about every grommet you see today is getting airborne and landing on their feet again.
Some ones gotta do a documentary on the tank team that went bells where no tank team before had ever won it all tell it was the team corner bronze boys cairns and Townsend coached them showing them the down under blend of voracious paddling for.priority and working a wave from curl to mush . Parmenter,parsons,frohoff,and Florida's Charlie kuhn and later that day crowned world champ Tom curren not to mention complete sweep women's Frieda zamba atrue underground team consisting of rising West coast talent including bad boy brad Gerlach I'm sure the sissies nodded knowing finally a humble worthy American adversary had finally risen.
Chris Martinez gotcha mate, damn typos, but I remember those Seppos, plus others Mike Lambresi, Matt Archbold, and Wes Lane before that, took competition up a few notches.
@Mark Hutchinson Curren was back then...only thing giving it credibility was getting see Curren in form surfing Curren...and Curren, oops didnt mean to repeat Curren, man again said Curren...ok not mentioning Curren anymore after that final Curren, i mean after that last one...
The top to bottom combos as seen here, are still the hallmark of power surfing and while it had definetly evolved and progressed to become the mainstay of any decent surfer's repertoire, this was an epic contest that owns it's place in the legend of the Bells Contest. To see 3 of the best goofyfooter's of the era and of all time is testimony to true power - surfing. Mick Fanning is one of modern day exponents of this kind of surfing and Occy still shines as bright as ever at places like Bells and J - Bay. Aerial surfing can and will wow the judging and spectators, but the bottom - turn setting up for the big shralps off the top are just way classy and just a beautiful thing to see and do.
Tom Curren is a classic style master,his beautifull flowing half and full turns utilizing all parts and critical sections of the wave.
I met Barton Lynch a few years later in (you might not believe me), Jacksonville Beach Florida at Aqua East Surfshop.. haha really cool dude!
Interesting how the final was not the most talked-about moment in this event, but the semi-final between Occy & Curren has become one of the most greatest ever heats in surfing history.
Tom Curren's bottom turns..... so smooth and controlled.
David Bee
Timelessness
In my humble opinion, Tom Curren's style is still one of the most beautiful of all time.
Definitely. your opinion is right.
100% agree.
No doubt. He’s always been my all-time favorite surfer.
Curren, machado, luke egan, Fábio gouveia...gods of style...
Kelly's style wouldn't be the same without Curran"s influence
It's completely obvious who Kelly got his style from. Tom has the key ingredients for good style.
Speed, Power, Flow 🤙🏼
Sweet video, thanks for posting
This vid is amazing,love curren and carrol.
I remember watching Baaahton Lynch rip it up at the OP pro in HB. Little waves but he was aah rippaah!
😂 well done
I love watching these guys surf. These surfers like Tom Curren and Cheyne Horan especially were like super heroes to me in the 80's. There's no surfing with style like this anymore.
I've never heard horan & style mentioned favorably in the same sentence before. i'm hoping that a return to the 80's day-glow wetsuits will turn todays flicky waifs into yesteryears rail-laying, spray-throwing, coke-snorting behemoths.
@@motoz30 lol now that's funny.
@@motoz30 Yeah his style was seriously off compared to the average in his day. What a time though for surfing and living. The 80's were a time where everything it seems was bigger and brighter. I used to think after watching video of Cheyne Horan surfing, How much more advanced can a guy on a surfboard get I thought cheyne had pushed the boundaries to the limit. I was wrong about that and now after watching these guys fly around from wave after wave I am asking the same question, How much further can it go? I look forward to seeing what happens in the next 5 to 10 years with surfing.
ever heard of Jordy Smith or John John Florence?
@@bigcryptid448 indeed, or Ethan Ewing.
❤
Curren is king, this is not Debatable. Good day.
Lovely surfing. Small lumpy bells not easy to ride well.
Classic real fluid power of the 1980s versus this choppy little boy air of 2010s, unmistakable, especially when freestyle ridding was done, minus the competition circuit and commercialism which got us here in our present situation .
occy el surfero
Even though three fin boards were the norm by 1986 ( I went from twin fin to a thruster about 82 I think) the surfing
still looks stilted by today’s standards. Just about every grommet you see today is getting airborne and landing on their feet again.
no slo mo plz, only real time motion
Surfing masterclass
curren lost that heat? gives new meaning to a "kangaroo" court, lol
Ahh yes. When sleepy music and lazy editing was the mainstay. Even surf vids were like stealing mom's Valium.
Better than the new shit music and some dude eating steel cut oatmeal in slo mo.
And then along came Herbie Fletcher and Wave Warriors with Christian redefining surfing, followed by Mayhem and the Lost crew to shake things up.
Some ones gotta do a documentary on the tank team that went bells where no tank team before had ever won it all tell it was the team corner bronze boys cairns and Townsend coached them showing them the down under blend of voracious paddling for.priority and working a wave from curl to mush . Parmenter,parsons,frohoff,and Florida's Charlie kuhn and later that day crowned world champ Tom curren not to mention complete sweep women's Frieda zamba atrue underground team consisting of rising West coast talent including bad boy brad Gerlach I'm sure the sissies nodded knowing finally a humble worthy American adversary had finally risen.
Can't edit lol I ment yank team known to oz as seppos back then and not sissies i meant aussies
Chris Martinez gotcha mate, damn typos, but I remember those Seppos, plus others Mike Lambresi, Matt Archbold, and Wes Lane before that, took competition up a few notches.
And then came kelly slater...
Ironically Gerlach Lives near Bells Beach nowdays.
1:24 is Tom Curren or George Michael ?
Shame it's too much slow-motion
I feel Kelly Slater really imulated Tom Current surfing..
Pro surfing is so lame nowadays
@Mark Hutchinson Curren was back then...only thing giving it credibility was getting see Curren in form surfing Curren...and Curren, oops didnt mean to repeat Curren, man again said Curren...ok not mentioning Curren anymore after that final Curren, i mean after that last one...
No doubt almost virtual reality like no soul no style just bleeding the 90s era when in my opinion the 80$ and 70$ were the deal
Bohdi no way bells is the biggest bruh!
Como surf evolui, é só ver a bateria de Mick é ítalo.